Astelia australiana

Robust, tufted plants to c. 1.8 m high, with a long, stout, branching rhizome. Leaves linear, 60–230 cm long, 5–10 cm wide, with a close, silvery and silky indumentum on the lower surface. Inflorescence a racemose panicle to 1.2 m high, many-flowered; axis rather stout; each of the 5–10 racemes 10–20 cm long, each subtended by a leaf-like bract. Flowers 12–18 mm wide, green to deep maroon, at least the males with a strong foetid odour; segments fused basally, reflexed at tips. Male or bisexual flowers with stamens shorter than the perianth. Female flowers with rudimentary stamens, sometimes producing fruit without fertilization; perianth tube fleshy, ovary c. 4–6 mm long, 3-locular. Berry ovoid to globular, 6–10 mm long, orange. Seeds 4–12, c. 2.5 mm long. Flowers Nov.–Feb.