Neoastelia Explained

Neoastelia is a genus of plants in the family Asteliaceae containing the single species Neoastelia spectabilis, commonly known as the silver sword lily,[1] that is endemic to a small area on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. It is a species of herb with long, linear leaves and large groups of whitish flowers, followed by spherical, pale green berries.

Description

Neoastelia spectabilis is a tufted herb with more or less linear leaves long and wide with drooping ends, and silvery white on the lower surface. The flowers are arranged in panicles long on a thick peduncle long. Each panicle consists of smaller, many-flowered racemes with a spathe at the base, the individual flowers whitish and wide on a pedicel long. Flowering occurs from November to December and the fruit is an oval to spherical, pale green berry long containing between 70 and 150 small black seeds.[2] [3]

Taxonomy

Neoastelia spectabilis was first formally described in 1987 by J.B. Williams in Flora of Australia from specimens he collected in 1978.[4]

Distribution and habitat

Silver sword lily grows in rocks crevices near waterfalls and on wet rocks in the New England National Park in Antarctic beech (Nothofagus moorei) forest, at altitudes between .

Conservation status

This species is listed as "vulnerable" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the New South Wales Government Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. The main threats to the species include trampling by walkers, illegal collection and its small population size. It is only known from four populations in the New England National Park.[5] [6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Silver Sword Lily - profile . New South Wales Government Office of Environment and Heritage . 26 July 2020.
  2. Book: Williams . John B. . George . Alex S. . Flora of Australia (Volume 26) . 1987 . Australian Biological Resources Study . Canberra . 493. 26 July 2020.
  3. Web site: Harden . Gwen J. . Neoastelia spectabilis . Royal Botanic Garden Sydney . 26 July 2020.
  4. Web site: Neoastelia spectabilis. APNI. 26 July 2020.
  5. Web site: Approved Conservation Advice for Neoastelia spectabilis . Australian Government Department of the Environment . 26 July 2020.
  6. Web site: Neoastelia spectabilis SPRAT Profile . Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment . 26 July 2020.