Habitat: clay, coast, forest, gully, lowland, open, roadside, shaded, sheltered, slope, track

Dispersal: Seed, vegetative

Distribution from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium. CC-BY 3.0 AU
Distribution from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium. CC-BY 3.0 AU
 Recognition
  • a large herbaceous plant with short-lived upright flowering stems growing up to 3 m tall.
  • it re-grows and spreads via long-lived creeping underground stems.
  • its large alternately arranged leaves (up to 50 cm long and 10 cm wide) have a long base that sheaths the stems.
  • its inflorescence is compact with broad bracts that overlap.
  • its showy flowers are borne in compact clusters (15 cm long and 10 cm wide) at the tips of the upright stems.
  • these flowers are off white to cream with a single white to cream stamen.
 Images
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Image: Trevor James © Trevor James
Weeds Key – interactive key to the weed species of New Zealand
 References
Biosecurity New Zealand 2012: Regional Pest Management Strategies Database. http://www.biosecurityperformance.maf.govt.nz/
Biosecurity New Zealand 2008: National Plant Pest Accord. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, Wellington.
Howell, C. 2008: Consolidated list of environmental weeds in New Zealand. DOC Research & Development Series 292: 42.
Ministry for Primary Industries 23 Feb 2017: Unwanted Organisms Register. Version 02.01.02. https://www1.maf.govt.nz/uor