| Astelia
alpina (Pineapple Grass) is a very common alpine and subalpine
species (rarely reaching lower altitudes) that grows on peat. It can
form extensive rough mats. The leaves are broad, triangular and
ribbed, about 10-30cm long, and ~2cm wide, with a dense felty
covering of white hairs on the underside (and sometimes to a degree
on the upper surface). The flowers are small and cream and occur in
a fairly obscure inflorescence. The fruit are round, red and fleshy.
A new species of Astelia is likely to be described soon from
plants growing in western Tasmania. |
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