Astelia microsperma, Colenso

Birch, Joanne L., 2015, A revision of infrageneric classification in Astelia Banks & Sol. ex R. Br. (Asteliaceae), PhytoKeys 52, pp. 105-132 : 112-113

Astelia microsperma

Astelia microsperma Colenso pro parte, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 17: 251. 1885 (description of fruit only). Type: NEW ZEALAND. North Island. Seventy-mile Bush, between Norsewood and Danniverke, County of Waipawa. 1884, W. Colenso s.n. (Lectotype: K [000524879, digital image!], fruiting material in packet, designated by Skottsberg, 1934, 81).

Collospermum microspermum Skottsb., Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl. Ser. 3, 14(2): 82. 1934; based on Astelia microsperma Colenso.

Funckia microsperma Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 711. 1891, nomen rejiciendum.

Astelia albicans Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 17: 252. 1885. Type: NEW ZEALAND. North Island. East slopes of Ruahine mountain range, county of Waipawa. Jan. 1884, A. Hamilton s.n. (Syntype: K [000524880, digital image!], staminate, pistillate). Skottsberg (1934, 88) identified a single specimen at K as the type material and the specimen in his plate 20 (K000524880) is consistent with the specimen described as the type. As Astelia is dioecious, the inclusion of one staminate and one pistillate inflorescence on the specimen means that it represents two distinct collections and each is rendered a syntype.

Funckia albicans Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 711. 1891, nomen rejiciendum.

Astelia graminifolia Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 19: 267. 1887.

Astelia microsperma Type: NEW ZEALAND. North Island. Woods, hilly country north of Napier, County of Wairoa, 1886, A. Hamilton s.n. (Lectotype: K [000524881, digital image!], pistillate, designated by Skottsberg, 1934, 85).

Funckia graminifolia Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 711. 1891, nomen rejiciendum.

Astelia planifolia Colenso Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 20: 209-210. 1888.

Astelia microsperma Type: NEW ZEALAND. North Island, Pohue, hilly country west of Napier, Hawke’s Bay. 1884. A. Hamilton s.n.; no specimens located.

Remarks.

Astelia microsperma was described by Colenso based on a specimen at Kew that contained material from two species ( Skottsberg 1934). The species description "referred to both, but mainly to the pistillate raceme in the envelope" ( Skottsberg 1934, 82). Skottsberg (1934) lectotypified the fruiting material in the packet (K000524879) as the type material of Astelia microsperma (as syn. Collospermum microspermum ) and determined the remaining material on the specimen (K000524882) as Astelia hastata (as syn. Collospermum hastatum ).

Excluded species.

Astelia spicata Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 14: 335. 1882, nomen illegitimum. Type: NEW ZEALAND. North Island. In the forests about Kopua and Norsewood, Colenso. (Lectotype: K [000524878, digital image!], pistillate, designated by Skottsberg, 1934, 81). Moore (1966) regarded the type and other specimens examined to represent very small individuals of either Astelia hastata or Astelia microsperma .

Collospermum spicatum (Colenso) Skottsb., Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl. Ser. 3, 14(2): 80. 1934; based on Astelia spicata Colenso nomen illegitimum.

Astelia nana Carse, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 57: 91. 1926, nomen illegitimum. Type: NEW ZEALAND. North Island. Kaiaka (Mangonui County), Maungatapere (Whangarei County), Mauku (Franklin County), H. Carse s.n.; synonym of Astelia spicata Colenso nomen illegitimum. This is regarded by Skottsberg (1934) as a synonym of Astelia spicata Colenso nomen illegitimum. (Syntypes: CHR [328212, digital image!], staminate, pistillate; [328213, digital image!), pistillate; AK [3227!], pistillate; [3228!], pistillate; [222913!], staminate; [303282!], pistillate).

Funckia spicata Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 711. 1891, nomen rejiciendum.