Astelia nivicola is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteliaceae. It is native to the New Zealand.
Cheeseman published this description posthumously in 1925:
A tufted herb forming extensive patches in moist alpine hollows. Leaves 6-12 in. long, 1⁄5-1⁄4 in. broad at the middle, coriaceous but flexible, gradually tapering upwards into an acute apex, keeled towards the base and stem-clasping, and then suddenly expanded into a thin and membranous almost transparent sheath; upper surface pale bronzy-green to glaucous-green, covered with a membranousnpellicle or more or less silky-tomentose; under-surface clothed with thin shaggy or villous whitish tomentum; veins variable in number, usually about 6 on each side of the rather slender midrib, which is sunken above but prominent beneath. Flowers not seen. Fruiting-panicle (one specimen alone seen) very short, 3⁄4 in. long and about as wide, nearly sessile among the bases of the uppermost leaves; branches few, short, densely compacted. Berry apparently ovoid-globose, 1⁄4-1⁄3 in. long, reddish-orange, sunk in the persistent base of the perianth.[1]
Distribution
Astelia nivicola is native to South Island of New Zealand.[2]
