Lily (Perching) Collospermum hastatum
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Angiosperm
Class: Monocotyledons
Order: Asparagales
Class: Monocotyledonous
Family: Asphodelaceae
Scientific name: Collospermum hastatum
Common name: Perching lily ,Kahakaha ,Widow Maker
The perching lily is one of the largest and most magnificent of the nest epiphytes. It is a tall clump forming plant with bright green arching flax-like leaves It is a robust, tufted epiphyte, often growing in large colonist in forest tree branches. It is well adapted to life in the tree tops. Its long, erect, somewhat fleshy V-shaped leaves are ridged to channel the water into the leafy reservoir where it's held until needed during dry spells.
The perching lily is dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants). It develops an inflorescence of flowers January to March and its fruits from March to August. The fruits turn red and contain black seeds.
One of New Zealand's species of mosquitoes breeds exclusively in this small reservoir of water. The V shaped leaves have a distinctive black base. It is found in coastal and lowland forests throughout the North Island and upper South Island. The flower spikes are pale yellow and the fruit of the female plant is red. It is slow growing. It was named the "Widow maker" by the early New Zealand bushman because of it falling on them when they were cutting down the native trees that hosted them.
Collospermum hastatum on a tree. Photogaphed at the end of Smith road in The Te Henui Valley
A large clump of Collospermum hastatum 
A young Collospermum hastatum growing on a tree trunk
The Collospermum hastatum panicle
Closeup of Collospermum hastatum inflorescence
Closeup of the tip of the inflorescence
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