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Forest Lore of the Maori

Flax

Flax

This flax or Phormium was an extremely useful plant to the Maori in olden days, for it provided him with clothing, cordage, fishing-nets and lines, baskets, and numerous other things. In many places it was most abundant, and where little was seen, and in forest areas where none grew, then it was planted at or near every hamlet. At some page 101places only the inferior P. Colensoi was found, the 'hill flax' of the settler, and here again superior kinds would be cultivated. A few varieties of P. tenax are highly prized for the quality of fibre they yield, and these would often be planted about hamlets having a plentiful supply of the less esteemed varieties used for ordinary purposes. The following names of varieties, etc., have been recorded:—

Phormium: Names of Variettes, Etc.

  • Generic Terms
    Harareke Harakeke Korari
    Phormium Colensoi
    Korari-tuauru Wharariki Tarariki (var. of wharariki).
    Various
  • Aohanga, Aorangi, Awanga—Striped or variegated variety.
  • Atemango.
  • Ateraukawa.
  • Atewheke.
  • Huki—Var. with dark-edged leaves.
  • Huhiroa.
  • Huiroa—Fine var. Probably same as huhiroa.
  • Huruhuruwhika.
  • Karuāmoa.
  • Karumanu.
  • Katiraukawa—Fine var.
  • Kauhangāmoa—Prized var.
  • Kauhangaroa—Lax-leaved var.
  • Kohuinga—Fine var.
  • Kohunga—Fine var.
  • Kōrītawa.
  • Maomao—var. with dark-edged leaves.
  • Mataroa—Superior var.
  • Motuaruhi—Inferior var.
  • Ngutunui.
  • Ngutu-parera.
  • Oue.
  • Parekawariki—A superior var.
  • Parekoritawa—Striped or Variegated var.
  • Paritaniwha—A superior var.
  • Pehu.
  • Pikōkō—A brown-edged var.
  • Pōtāngō.
  • Rātăroa—A superior var.
  • Rauehu—Yields a good fibre.
  • Raumoa—A fine var.
  • Rerehape.
  • Rongotainui—A long-leaved var.
  • Ruatapu—A fine var.
  • Rukutia.
  • Taeore, Taiore—A dark-edged var.
  • Takirikau—A superior var.
  • Tamure—An obtuse-leaved var.
    • Colenso has it as another name for awanga.
  • Taneāwai.
  • Tapoto—A superior var.
  • Taroa. Wharanui.
  • Tihore—A superior var.
  • Tīkā.
  • Tipareouni.
  • Titoonewai.
  • Tituao.
  • Toitoi.
  • Tutaewheke.
  • Tukura—A swamp-growing var.
  • Tutaemanu—An inferior var.
  • Wini—Has dark-edged leaves.

Pa harakeke—A grove or plantation of flax, often denotes a number of cultivated plants. Pu harakeke —A Single plant or bush of flax. Wha harakeke, Taha, Kehakai —Leaf of flax plant. Rito —The innermost page 102undeveloped leaves. Iho, the upright leaves on either side of rito; also tuahuru; taumai, the lax leaves outside the iho; also pakere. Koka, kuka, kakoa, the old dry leaves. kauru —The open upper part of the leaf. Putake, the base of the leaf. Pureke, the fleshy side of the leaf. Whitau, Muka, dressed flax fibre. Anga, tae, ngai and pungahungahu, the tow produced in dressing. Para and kukakuka, the epidermis or boon removed in dressing. Korari —The scape or flower stem of the flax plant. Pukaha, kaikaha, kahu, parakoka, are all applied to the refuse of flax leaves, strips, etc., after dressing or other manipulation. Haro and hapine are used to describe the scraping process by means of which the fibre is disengaged, i.e., freed from the para. The stripping process is described by the term takiri.

The list of names of varieties given above probably contains some duplicate terms; the collecting of names in different districts almost invariably ends in such confusion. Of the naming of the genus, J. R. Forster, who sailed with Cook on his second voyage, wrote: "The plant of which they make all their clothing, fishing lines, cords, etc., is a new genus which we have called Phormium" Nor were the explorers long in detecting two different plants, as shown in the account of Cook's first voyage, wherein, under date March 1770 we find the following: "There is …. a plant that serves the in-habitants instead of hemp and flax, which excels all that are put to the same purposes in other countries. Of this plant there are two sorts; the leaves of both resemble those of flags, but the flowers are smaller, and their clusters more numerous; in one kind they are yellow, and in the other a deep red."

Crozet made some strangely incorrect Statements concerning the Maori method of dressing flax; his 'wheel and distaff' have never been seen by any other writer. Nicholas teils us of the flowering of flax plants in France as early as 1813. Colenso stated that the Maori knows, or knew, fifty sorts of flax, this probably means that fifty names for flax were collected. A considerable number of these were certainly duplicates, and I am inclined to believe that some others were applied, not to permanent varieties, but to slight variations occasionally seen, some peculiarity sporadic and intransmissible. The list of names given above numbers about sixty.

Some peculiar beliefs and superstitions are connected with this Phormium. When, for example, it was planted near a village so as to serve for daily use, it was highly essential that the planters should note and remember what wind was blowing at the time of planting. When the plants had developed and the leaves were ready for use then it was necessary that such leaves be cut during the prevalance of the same wind; if cut at any other time the fibre of the leaves will be found to be of poor quality. Should you give another person page 103permission to cut some of your flax he will ask you what wind prevailed when you planted it, and should a person take some without your permission, and find it of a poor quality, then he knows that he has taken it during the wrong winds, and he will probably try again when the wind changes.