Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asparagales Link
Family
Asteliaceae Dumort.
Genus
Astelia Banks & Sol. ex R.Br.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Astelia microsperma Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 17: 251 (1885)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Collospermum microspermum (Colenso) Skottsb., Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl. Ser. 3, 14: 82 (1934)
Type: NEW ZEALAND. North Island. Seventy-mile Bush, between Norsewood and Danniverke, County of Waipawa. 1884, W. Colenso s.n. (Lectotype: K [000524879, digital image!], fruiting material in packet, designated by Skottsberg, 1934, 81).
  • = Astelia albicans Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 17: 252 (1885)
Type: NEW ZEALAND. North Island. East slopes of Ruahine mountain range, county of Waipawa. Jan. 1884, A. Hamilton s.n. (Syntype: K [000524880, digital image!], staminate, pistillate). Skottsberg (1934, 88) identified a single specimen at K as the type material and the specimen in his plate 20 (K000524880) is consistent with the specimen described as the type. As Astelia is dioecious, the inclusion of one staminate and one pistillate inflorescence on the specimen means that it represents two distinct collections and each is rendered a syntype.
  • = Astelia graminifolia Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 19: 267 (1887)
Type: NEW ZEALAND. North Island. Woods, hilly country north of Napier, County of Wairoa, 1886, A. Hamilton s.n. (Lectotype: K [000524881, digital image!], pistillate, designated by Skottsberg, 1934, 85).
  • = Astelia planifolia Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 20: 209 (1888)
Type: NEW ZEALAND. North Island, Pohue, hilly country west of Napier, Hawke’s Bay. 1884. A. Hamilton s.n.; no specimens located.
  • = Funckia albicans Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2, 711 (1891)
  • = Funckia graminifolia Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2, 711 (1891)
  • = Funckia microsperma Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2, 711 (1891)
 Description

Tufted plants with general habit of . Lvs c. 40–150 × (0.7)–1–2.5 cm.; sheath nigrescent towards base, with narrow basal band of white scales; lamina as in C. hastatum but proportionately narrower. Infl. arching out from fan of lvs; peduncle c. = panicle; panicle of 4–8 racemes. Male racemes c. 4.5–6 × 2.5 cm.; fls whitish, occ. pink towards base; per.-segs 9–13 × 1.5–2–(2.5) mm., narrow-oblong, the surfaces exposed in bud scaly; stamens c. 8.5 mm. long; ovary c. 2 mm. diam. Female racemes c. 3–15 × 1.5–2 cm.; fls whitish; per.-tube c. 3 mm. long, cup-shaped; per.-segs c. 2.5 × 1 mm.; ovary subglobose, narrowed abruptly into short style. Fr. c. 4.5 mm. diam., globose, milky white, cupped in thin membr. per.-tube. Seeds ∞, c. 1 × 0.8 mm., ± curved, black, shining, with short pointed funiculus carrying fragments of hairs only. n = 35.

[From: Moore and Edgar (1970) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 2. as Collospermum microspermum (Colenso) Skottsb.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Nov.–Feb.; Fruiting: Feb.–Jun.

 Bibliography
Birch, J.L. 2015: A revision of infrageneric classification in Astelia Banks & Sol. ex R.Br. (Asteliaceae). PhytoKeys 52: 105–132.
Colenso, W. 1885 ("1884"): A description of some newly-discovered and rare indigenous plants; being a further contribution towards the making known the botany of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 17: 237–265.
Colenso, W. 1887: A description of some newly-discovered cryptogamic plants, being a further contribution towards the making known the botany of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 19: 271–301.
Colenso, W. 1888: On new Phænogamic plants of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 20: 188–211.
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. [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. [as Collospermum microspermum (Colenso) Skottsb.] [Not Threatened]
Kuntze, C.E.O. 1891: Revisio Generum Plantarum. Vol. 2. Arthur Felix, Leipzig.
Skottsberg, C. 1934: Studies in the genus Astelia Banks et Solander. Kongl. Svenska Vetenskaps Academiens Handlingar. Stockholm (Ser.3) 14(2): 1–106.