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.