Clump-forming fan-shaped herb to about 5 m high from a thick rhizome. Leaves numerous, 2 ranked perennial, linear, stiff, at least basally. Inflorescence an erect, terminal branched panicle. Flowers numerous, to 5 cm long, erect; summer.Tepals dull red, tepals not or barely recurved. Fruit 3-sided, erect.

New Zealand and Norfolk Island. Naturalised in parts of Victoria.

P. cookianum Le Jolis, Mountain Flax, from New Zealand is a clump-forming fanshaped herb to about 2 m high from a thick rhizome. Leaves numerous, 2 ranked perennial, linear, drooping. Inflorescence an arched, terminal branched panicle. Flowers numerous, to 4 cm long, erect; summer. Tepals greenish-yellow to greenish-orange, inner tepal apices recurved. Fruit spirally twisting, pendulous. Syn. P. colensoi Hook. f.

Source: Conran, J. (2005). Hemerocallidaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.