Astelia Banks & Sol. ex R.Br.

Tufted, rhizomatous, dioecious herbs with perennial leaves; stems short, usually hidden. Leaves and inflorescences usually covered with silvery white scales, sometimes woolly-hairy. Leaves 3-ranked, linear to lanceolate, keeled; sheath closed at base. Inflorescence a terminal panicle, sometimes much reduced; branches subtended by foliaceous or membranous spathes; bracts membranous. Flowers unisexual, actinomorphic, sessile or pedicellate. Perianth segments 6, free or basally connate. Male flowers: stamens 6, shorter than perianth; anthers dehiscing by parallel slits, introrse; pistillode obvious. Female flowers with small staminodes; ovary superior, 1-locular with 3 parietal placentas or 3-locular with axile, subapical placentas; style short or lacking; stigmas 3. Fruit a berry; perianth persistent. Seeds with a black, glossy, hard testa.

Some species are epiphytic in forests; others grow on the ground or on rocks, usually in wet areas. Several occur in bogs and may contribute to peat formation. They are to be found from sea-level in the south but only at alpine altitudes near the equator.