Astelia sect. Periastelia Skottsb.

Birch, Joanne L., 2015, A revision of infrageneric classification in Astelia Banks & Sol. ex R. Br. (Asteliaceae), PhytoKeys 52, pp. 105-132 : 115

Astelia sect. Periastelia Skottsb.

Astelia sect. Periastelia Skottsb., Kongl. Svenska Vetenskapsakad. Handl. ser. 3, 14(2): 46. 1934.

Note.

Open growth form; leaves linear or ensiform; inflorescences bearing many flowers; staminate flowers with short or long filaments (0.9-2.8 mm); pistillate flowers with long outer tepals (2.3-5.3 × 1.2-2.6 mm); ovary trilocular, intermediate length (1.8-4.6 mm); fruit globose, few seeds per fruit (4-12); seeds long and narrow (1.8-3.6 × 0.7-1.6 mm). Type: Astelia argyrocoma A.Heller & Skottsb., designated here.

Included species and distribution.

Austral Islands, Rapa: Astelia rapensis Skottsb. Marquesas Islands, Ua Pou, Nuku Hiva: Astelia tovii F.Br. USA, Hawaii: Astelia argyrocoma A.Heller & Skottsb., Astelia menziesiana Sm., Astelia waialealae Wawra.

Habitat.

Lowland mesic forest ( Astelia menziesiana , Astelia rapensis ), tropical montane cloud forest ( Astelia argyrocoma and Astelia menziesiana ) and alpine swamps ( Astelia menziesiana and Astelia waialealae ).