Kahakaha

Description:

Spotted Buckletons Beach, near Matakana, New Zealand. A large clump forming plant with yellowish-green to medium green flax-like leaves that curve slightly outwards. Near the base of the leaves it is a blackish colour. The leaves are usually 60cm-1.7m in length by 5-7cm wide and sometimes they are a bronzy-green colour. Collospermum hastatum is dioecious, having male and female flowers on separate plants. The flowers appear in panicles from January to March. Those of the male plant are usually shorter than those of the female but generally the inflorescence is 20-30 cm long. The flowers on the female plant are creamy-coloured followed by rounded translucent yellowish fruits that eventually turn red. The fruits ripen from March to August and contain many black seeds which are surrounded by a thick, fleshy aril.

Habitat:

It is found in coastal and lowland forests throughout the North Island and upper South Island. It is usually epiphytic on large tree branches but in coastal areas may also occur on rocks.

Notes:

Kahakaha, also known as Tank Lily or Perching Lily, is an endemic New Zealand member of the Asteliaceae family. It is known as a “nest epiphyte” and often has a build-up of spongy root and soil matter around its base. During storms the sheer weight can cause it to fall to the ground where it will live quite happily on the ground.