Flora of New Zealand Series

A. nervosa var. grandis (Kirk) Ckn. et Allan in T.N.Z.I.  56,  1926,  21.

Type locality: Ponsonby Road, Auckland. Type: K, T. Kirk.

Robust tufted plants occurring singly or in colonies. Stem 2–4–6 cm. diam. Lvs 50–200–(250) × 4–12 cm., stiff, drooping only at the tip of very large plants, strongly keeled above sheath but not tightly folded, broad almost to tip; sheath to 2 × lamina-width, with white scales on both surfaces; lamina adaxially green (the scales falling early), the one strong costa on each side of midrib us. white; abaxial surface paler with thin, mostly persistent cover of fine scales and costae hardly prominent (at least in fresh lf) and little broader than midrib. Infl. erect, broad, sparsely scaly; peduncle stout, about = panicle; lower spathes long or short, mostly rather abruptly narrowed to tip; racemes ∞, all except the smallest spathes subtending sub-infls of 2–3 or more racemes. Fls pedicellate and us. well spaced; ♂ reddish green, tepals to 7 × 3 mm., spreading then drooping about pedicel, the outer ones scaly externally; ♀ dark green, tepals much smaller than in ♂, tube closely appressed to above middle of green ovary, the dull reddish tips recurved. Ovary 3-locular; style thick, ill-defined. Fr. to 9 × 9 mm., subglobose, orange ± flecked or blotched with red; matured per. fleshy, orange, ± split between shrivelled remnants of tepals, ± spreading from base of berry. 2n = 140.

DIST.: N., S. Possibly not extending south of c. lat. 45º.

Lowland to montane in swampy, ± peaty ground.

FL. 10–11. FT. 2–5.