''Astelia hastata'', commonly known as the kahakaha, widow maker, perching lily, and tank lily, is an

epiphyte An epiphyte is a plant or plant-like organism that grows on the surface of another plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphyt ...

species

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to New Zealand.

Description

Similar to other epiphytic ''Astelia'' species, ''A. hastata'' is tufted, growing leaves in a fan-like arrangement with roots growing through the base of the leaves. The overlap of the leaves at the base forms a

phytotelma Phytotelma (plural phytotelmata) is a small water-filled cavity in a terrestrial plant. The water accumulated within these plants may serve as the habitat for associated fauna and flora. A rich literature in German summarised by Thienemann (19 ...

where soil and water collect. This area is commonly used as a nesting ground by flies as well as amphibian and lizard species such as '' Leiopelma archeyi''. ''A. hastata'' is

dioecious Dioecy ( ; ; adj. dioecious, ) is a characteristic of certain species that have distinct unisexual individuals, each producing either male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproduction is ...

, with each plant forming either male or female flowers, in

panicles In botany, a panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a p ...

and generally

insect-pollinated Entomophily or insect pollination is a form of pollination whereby pollen of plants, especially but not only of flowering plants, is distributed by insects. Flowers pollinated by insects typically advertise themselves with bright colours, somet ...

, between January and March. These flowers then produce fruit which ripen from March to August. The ripe fruit are red, containing a large quantity of black seeds surrounded by a thick

aril An aril (), also called arillus, is a specialized outgrowth from a seed that partly or completely covers the seed. An arillode, or false aril, is sometimes distinguished: whereas an aril grows from the attachment point of the seed to the ova ...

. ''A. hastata'' fruit are a food source for native species including

kererū The kererū (''Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae''), also known as kūkupa (Māori language#Northern dialects, northern Māori dialects), New Zealand pigeon or wood pigeon, is a species of pigeon native to New Zealand. Johann Friedrich Gmelin describ ...

, pekapeka and

South Island kōkako The South Island kōkako (''Callaeas cinereus'') is a forest bird endemic to the South Island and Stewart Island of New Zealand. Unlike its close relative, the North Island kōkako (''C. wilsoni''), it has largely orange wattles, with only a sma ...

Traditional uses

''A. hastata'' was an important plant for indigenous

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

, who ate the fruit and used the leaves for weaving baskets, headbands and sandals. White fibers on the underside of certain leaves were also used as an ornament in women's hair.

In culture

''A. hastata'' was named "widow maker" by early European bushmen due to its tendency to fall from host trees unpredictably, for example during strong winds. The plant is capable of regrowing after falling from a host tree.

Gallery

Collospermum hastatum (48752776921).jpg, 18th century illustration of ''A. hastata'' Kahakaha_fallen.jpg, Regrowth after falling from canopy Kahakaha_epiphyte.jpg, ''A. hastata'' growing on totara tree CollospermumHastatum.jpg, Close-up showing developing fruit

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q38493751 Asteliaceae Endemic flora of New Zealand Epiphytes