Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Apiales Nakai
Family
Umbelliferae
Genus
Aciphylla J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Aciphylla colensoi Hook.f., Handb. New Zealand Fl. 92 (1864)
Synonymy:
Lectotype (designated by Oliver 1956 in caption of plate 6): New Zealand, Colenso 2056, 1849, K K000340018; Isolectotypes: K K000340017, K002742029; Residual syntypes: New Zealand, Colenso 87, 1847, K K000340019; [New Zealand], Colenso 1528 [?], no date, K K002742014; Canterbury, Sinclair & Haast 248, 135, 1860–1861, K K002742032; [Banks Peninsula], Raoul 16, 1841, P P03223486; [Banks Peninsula], Raoul s.n., ‘1843’, P P03223482, P03223487
  • = Aciphylla squarrosa var. [β] latifolia Hook.f., Bot. Antarct. Voy. II. (Fl. Nov.-Zel.) Part I, 88 (1853)
Syntypes: New Zealand, Colenso [various–see syntypes of Aciphylla colensoi Hook.f.]
  • = Aciphylla colensoi var. conspicua Kirk, Stud. Fl. New Zealand 207 (1899)
Lectotype candidates (first-step designation by Oliver 1956): Ruahine, Howlett s.n., 26 May 1896, WELT SP048325/A-B; Ruahine [and/or] Headwaters of the Oroua River, WF Howlett s.n., 15 Jan. 1897, WELT SP011625, SP048323, SP048324, SP048326, SP048327; Ruahine, WF Howlett s.n., Jan. 1897, WELT SP011623/A-B, SP011624, SP011626; Residual syntype: Ruahine, WF Howlett s.n., Jan. 1897, AK 6394
  • = Aciphylla indurata Cheeseman, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 47: 40 (1914)
Lectotype (designated by Oliver 1956): Mt Lyell, W Townson 124A, no date, AK 6431 Residual syntypes: Mt Lyell, W Townson 123, no date, AK 6430 [A. colensoi?]; Mt Lyell, W Townson s.n., no date, WELT SP012851 [A. colensoi × A. hookeri], SP013791 [A. colensoi × A. hookeri?]; Brunner Range, W Townson s.n., no date, WELT SP012853, CHR 329867 [both A. colensoi × A. hookeri]; Paparoa Range, W Townson s.n., no date, WELT SP012852, SP012879 [both A. hookeri × A. horrida].
Vernacular Name(s):
Giant speargrass; Taramea
 Description

Forming small to rather large tufts, with us. stout stems sts up to ± 1 m. tall. Lvs ± 3–5 dm. long, pinnate; occ. 2-pinnate lvs are present. Sheaths up to c. 6 × 3 cm. long, rather thin; stipules stiff, simple or occ. with accessory smaller pinnules, up to ± 7 cm. × 4 mm., tapering to pungent apex; petioles up to c. 10 cm. long, stout, winged; lower internodes up to ± 3–4 cm. long. Pinnae 2–4 pairs, slender strongly serrulate; midrib broad, prominent, red to orange; lower laminae up to 20–40–(45) cm. × ± 12 mm., narrowing to pungent apex. Infl. narrow-oblong. Lower bracts with sheath ± 30 × 12 mm., tapering to long pungent tips; lamina ribbed, ± 10 cm. × 3–4 mm., with stout prominent red to yellow midrib, with pungent point up to ± 3 mm. long. Umbels crowded, from near base to apex of peduncles; umbellules crowded, on slender rays to ± 1 cm. long; Fr. c. 8 mm. long. mericarps 4–3-winged. Vittae 2–4 per furrow. 5–6 commissural

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
Cheeseman, T.F. 1914: Notes on Aciphylla, with descriptions of new species. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 47: 39–44.
de Lange, P.J.; Gosden, J.; Courtney, S.P.; Fergus, A.J.; Barkla, J.W.; Beadel, S.M.; Champion, P.D., Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Makan, T.; Michel, P. 2024: Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 43. [Naturally uncommon; Not threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Data Deficient; Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Data Deficient; Not Threatened]
Hooker, J.D. 1852–1853 ("1853"): The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage of H.M. Discovery Ships Erebus and Terror in the Years 1839–1843, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross. II. Flora Novae-Zelandiae. Part I. Flowering plants. Lovell Reeve, London.
Hooker, J.D. 1864: Handbook of the New Zealand Flora: a systematic description of the native plants of New Zealand and the Chatham, Kermadec's, Lord Auckland's, Campbell's and Macquarie's Islands. Part I. Reeve, London.
Kirk,T. 1899: The Students' Flora of New Zealand and the Outlying Islands. Government Printer, Wellington, N.Z.
Perrie, L.R.; Glenny, D.S.; Shepherd, L.D. 2025: Taxonomic synopsis of Aciphylla (Apiaceae): accepted species, nomenclature, and hybridisation. New Zealand Journal of Botany: 1–41 (online) . (Published online: 21 May 2025 https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2025.2498442)