Astelia graminea
| Astelia graminea | |
|---|---|
| |
| Astelia graminea in Nelson Lakes National Park | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asteliaceae |
| Genus: | Astelia |
| Species: | A. graminea
|
| Binomial name | |
| Astelia graminea | |
Astelia graminea is a species of plant, endemic to New Zealand.[2]
Description
[edit]Astelia graminea looks rather like a grass without tufts, which makes it readily identifiable in the field.[3] Although astelia means 'stemless',[2] there is a stem to this plant, which is around 1cm in diameter.[4] From this stem long, grass-like leaves with a deep keel spread out evenly. The leaves are brown on one side, and then buff and felted on the other side.[4]
The flowers are green, red, or pink.[2] They bloom in January, and the orange fruit[4] is present from March to April.[4] The plant is perennial.[5]
The key used to distinguish this species in the original description is as follows:[3]
Leaf lamina narrow, mostly ± 1 cm wide, dull brown adaxially, nerves on each side of midrib usually <6; habit diffuse and grasslike owing to lateral shoots developing in axils of many leaves; panicle simple, each spathe subtending only 1 raceme; fruit nearly twice as long as broad.
Range and habitat
[edit]Astelia graminea is known from the northern part of the South Island.[6] It is known only from Nelson and west Marlborough,[7] from the Wairau Mountains to Gouland Downs.[3] This species is currently not considered threatened.[1]
Ecology
[edit]The seeds in the berries are scattered through frugivory.[2] Honey bees and flies are known to visit the flowers.[7]
It collocates with Chionocloa australis in open grasslands at altitude.[7] It collocates with Astelia nivicola near Lake Adelaide, and near Mt. Arthur.[3]
Etymology
[edit]Graminea means 'grassy' in Latin. Astelia means 'stemless'.[2]
Taxonomy
[edit]It may hybridize with Astelia banksii and Astelia solandri in the wild.[7]
The type locality is from the Travers Range in Nelson.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "NZTCS". nztcs.org.nz. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
- ^ a b c d e "Astelia graminea". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
- ^ a b c d Moore, L. D. (1966-06-01). "Australasian asteliads (Liliaceae): with special reference to New Zealand species of Astelia subgenus Tricella". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 4 (2): 201–240. doi:10.1080/0028825X.1966.10429041. ISSN 0028-825X.
- ^ a b c d "Flora of New Zealand | Taxon Profile | Astelia graminea". www.nzflora.info. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
- ^ "Astelia graminea L.B.Moore | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
- ^ "Australasian Virtual Herbarium". AVH: The Australasian Virtual Herbarium. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
- ^ a b c d e "Astelia graminea L.B.Moore - Flora of New Zealand Series". Flora of New Zealand Series. Retrieved 2025-03-03.