Where found:

• In open places in the forest where there is plenty of light, including road and track margins
  
• Between 450 and 1350 metres above sea level on Mt Taranaki/Egmont
  

• Massive trunk with a large tuft of sword shaped leaves at the top, the trunk seldom branches
  
• Leaves (1-2 m x 100-150 mm) often have a broad, red central vein, the leaves droop when old and the dead leaves remain around the trunk for a long time
  
• There are tightly packed flowers along the branches of large flower panicles, the buds are purplish-brown
  
• Bluish-black berries (6 mm) have many black seeds
  
• Bark is rough, thick and flaky, after the flakes have fallen, the bark is smooth with little blisters