A. Leaves rigid and coriaceous, pungent-pointed. Fruit small, 110–13 in., subterete or slightly compressed. | |
* Tall and stout, 2–5 ft. or more. Inflorescence a dense linear-oblong panicle, often several feet in length. | |
2–8 ft. high. Leaves 1–2-pinnate; leaflets broad, ¼–¾ in., excessively rigid and spinous. Middle lobe of bract not refracted | 1. A. Colensoi. |
2–6 ft. high. Leaves 2–3-pinnate; leaflets narrow, 16–18 in. broad. Middle lobe of bract refracted | 2. A. squarrosa. |
1–3 ft. high. Leaves pinnate ; leaflets ¼–½ in. broad, transversely jointed. Fruit narrow linear-oblong | 3. A. Traversii. |
** Small, 4–18 in. high, rarely more. Male inflorescence paniculate; female much contracted, almost concealed in the sheaths of the bracts. | |
4–12 in. high. Leaves 1–2-pinnate; leaflets almost squarrose, very short, 16–12 in. long, flat, grooved above | 4. A. Hookeri. |
12–24 in. high, polished and shining. Leaves pinnate; leaflets 3–9 in. long, 110–15 in. broad | 5. A. Lyallii. |
10–16 in. high. Leaves trifoliolate; leaflets 1½–4 in. long, 16–15 in. broad | 6. A. Hectori. |
3–7 in. high. Leaves trifoliolate or simple; leaflets 1–2 in. long, 112–18 in. broad | 7. A. Traillii. |
6–12 in. high, excessively rigid and coriaceous. Leaves 4–9 in., simple or forked or 3-fid; segments ¼–½ in. broad | 8. A. Kirkii. |
*** Small, 4–18 in. high. Both male and female inflorescence broad and paniculate. | |
Leaves coriaceous, pinnate or 2-pinnate at the base; leaflets 112–14 in. broad | 9. A. Monroi. |
Leaves firm but hardly coriaceous, 2–3-pinnate; leaflets 130–120 in. wide | 10. A. polita. |
**** Small, densely tufted, 3–4 in. high. Umbels few, terminal, forming a globose head. | |
Leaves densely imbricating, 3-fid | 11. A. Dobsoni. |
Leaves densely imbricating, quite entire | 12. A. simplex. |
B. Leaves flaccid. Fruit large, ½–¾ in. long, oblong, much compressed; carpels broadly 3- or 2-winged. | |
Stout, 2–3 ft. high. Leaves 3–4-pinnate. Inflorescence loosely paniculate | 13. A. Dieffenbachii. |
1. A. Colensoi, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 92.— Stem stout, erect, 2–5 ft. high, 2–3 in. diam. at the base, deeply grooved. Radical leaves numerous, forming a circle of bayonet-like spikes round the base of the stem, 1–2½ ft. long, pinnate or 2-pinnate at the base, with few secondary leaflets; leaflets 5–15 in. long, ¼–½ in. wide or more, narrow-linear, acuminate, terminating in a long and stout spine, excessively thick and coriaceous, rigid, striate, margins rough with minute serrulations; sheaths broad, sometimes quite 2 in. across, very thick and coriaceous, produced on each side above into a spinous simple or forked narrow-linear leaflet 2–6 in. long. Inflorescence a narrow-oblong cylindrical panicle composed of numerous umbels on branched peduncles springing from the axils