nīkau
1. (noun) nīkau, Rhopalostylis sapida - a native palm, the fronds of which meet to form a bulbous head and the unbranched trunk has circular leaf scars. Flowering doesn't begin until a tree is about 30 years old. The tiny pinkish purple flowers hang down from below the base of the leaves. The bright red fruit take a year to ripen. Found in lowland forests of the North Island and as far south as Greymouth and Banks Peninsula in the South Island; nīkau palm leaves.
He rahi ngā kai ka kohia i te ngahere, ngā hua o te hīnau, te tawa me te miro; te pūhā, te uho o te nīkau; te aka perei me te tāwhara (Te Ara 2011). / Numerous foods were gathered from the forest, including fruits and berries from hīnau, tawa and miro; sowthistle; the hearts of nīkau palms; the roots of perei (potato orchids), and the bracts of kiekie.
