Flora of New Zealand Series

Astelia hastata Col. in T.N.Z.I.  19,  1887,  265.

Type locality: "Forests, hilly country north of Napier, Country of Wairoa". Type: K, A. Hamilton.

Robust tufted plants, often in large colonies. Stem c. 2 cm. diam. Lvs 60–170 × 3–5–7 cm., arcuate; sheath gradually narrowing above by long cuneate shoulder, the lower portion us. black abaxially, sts shading into yellow, the basal 1–2 cm. clad in fine filiform white scales 1–2 cm. long; lamina adaxially dull green without scales in mature lf; abaxial surface more bronzed and permanently clad in peltate dark-centred scales. Infl. arching out from fan of lvs; peduncle c. = panicle; panicle of c. 4–8 cylindric racemes. Male racemes c. 15–20 × 3 cm.; fls cream, deeper yellow towards cup-shaped base; per.-segs 9–14 × (1)–1.5–2 mm., linear-oblong, the surfaces exposed in bud scaly; stamens c. 10 mm. long, ovary c. 2 mm. diam. Female racemes c. 20–30 × 2.5 cm., fls very pale cream; per.-tube c. 5 mm. long, cup-shaped, per.-segs c. 2–3 × 1 mm.; ovary subglobose, abruptly narrowed into short style. Fr. c. 4.5 mm. diam., globose, ± translucent yellow then red, cupped in thin membr. per.-tube. Seeds ∞, c. 1.4 × 0.7 mm., narrow-ovoid, black, dull, longitudinally ridged, surrounded by thick, = mucilaginous aril. n = 35.

DIST.: Three Kings Is, N., S. north of c. lat. 42º 30'.

Coastal and lowland. Epiphytic or rupestral in large masses which often fall to ground and continue to grow there.

FL 1–3. FT. 3–8.

Cheeseman (Man. N.Z Fl. 1925, 316) used the name Astelia solandri for this sp.