Molecular phylogeny and dating of Asteliaceae (Asparagales): Astelia s.l. evolution provides insight into the Oligocene history of New Zealand

► The Asteliaceae phylogeny is reconstructed and divergence dates estimated. ► Astelia is paraphyletic as Collospermum is nested within it, while Milligania and Neoastelia are sister. ► Astelia s.l. diversity and distributions of extant taxa are the result of long-distance dispersal. ► Date estimates for Astelia s.l. evolution inter the presence of Astelia s.l. in New Zealand during the Oligocene. ► Alpine taxa from New Zealand and Australia have recent origins from the Late Miocene onwards.