Astelia alpina

Astelia alpina called pineapple grass, silver astelia, or perching lily is a commonly found species in alpine and subalpine areas of Tasmania and the Australian Alps. It is a perennial herb that typically dominates its environment by growing in dense clusters, called mats, in alpine bogs. There are two subspecies: Astelia alpina var. novae hollandiae from New South Wales and Victoria and Astelia alpina var. alpina endemic to Tasmania. Both subspecies appear very similar to each other. The species was originally described by Robert Brown.

Description

A tufted herb. It has stiff leaves which form a rosette giving it an appearance like pineapple. The leaves are long and narrow and have channels along them. They are about 20 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The leaves are green above and silver underneath. It spreads by rhizomes. The flower are greenish and in spikes at the end of the stalk in the centre of the leaves. The fruit is a bright red round berry. They are about 12 mm long in the heart of the tuft. They contain 5 black shiny seeds. These are edible.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves Edible Uses: Fruit - raw. Sweet, fleshy and juicy, it is pleasant to eat. Leaf base. No more details.

Traditional Uses

The base of the leaves is eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a cool temperate alpine plant. It grows in bogs and on the edge of mountain pools. It suits hardiness zones 8-10. Tasmanian Herbarium.

Where It Grows

Australia*, Tasmania*,

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors at least in the milder parts of this country. It survives temperatures down to at least -7°c in Australian gardens but this cannot be directly translated to British gardens because of our cooler summers and longer colder and wetter winters. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Requires a damp humus-rich fertile soil in sun or semi-shade, sheltered from cold drying winds. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse. Germination can be very slow, sometimes taking more than 12 months. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade for at least the first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out in late spring or early summer once they are 15cm or more tall. Division in spring.

Other Uses

None known Special Uses

Production

Plants flower in May.

Notes

There are about 25 Astelia species.

Synonyms

References (18)

• Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 313
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 111
• Cameron, M., (Ed.) 1981, A Guide to Flowers & Plants of Tasmania. Reed p 32
• Collier, P., 1995, Alpine Wildflowers of Tasmania. Plant Identikit. Society for growing Australian Plants. Tasmania. p 58
• Cribb, A.B. & J.W., 1976, Wild Food in Australia, Fontana. p 69

More from Asteliaceae

Astelia grandis

Swamp astelia

Astelia nervosa

Bush flax, Kakaha, Mountain astelia

Astelia solandri

Perching lily, Kowharawhara

Collospermum hastatum

Kahakaha, Perching lily