"[45], This article is about the fiber. Leaves were cut near the base of the plant using a sharp mussel shell or specially shaped rocks, more often than not greenstone (jade, or pounamu). Flax snails, a rare land snail living only in the Far North, often shelter under flax bushes. This plant's large selection originates, surprisingly, from only two species. It has sword-like leaves that shoot up from the base of the plant and new hybrids are now available in … For instance the minimum wage paid this season at Mr Rutherford's Te Aoterei mill has been 11s 3d for a ten-hour day. Driven by the desperate need for muskets and ammunition, many Māori moved to unhealthy swamplands where flax could be grown, and there devoted insufficient labour to the production of food, until any survivors were fully equipped, first with musket and ammunition, and then with iron tools. Phormium Jester Flax- has long arching red/pink and bright green leaves, medium to large variety 1.2 metres Both brown and yellow flax varieties are being developed. The 50 harakeke were selected long ago from natural stands and cultivated by … Phormium is a genus of two plant species in the Asphodelaceae family. From about the 1860s there was an active industry harvesting and processing flax for export, peaking at 32,000 tons in 1916, but the general depression of the 1930s brought the virtual collapse of this trade. Perfect for contrast this very popular plant has many landscape uses. The flax looper caterpillar (Orthoclydon praefactata), native to New Zealand, feeds at night on the underside of P. tenax leaves, leaving a ‘window’ of the leaf cuticle. [8], Thus, by the early 19th century, the quality of rope materials made from New Zealand flax was known internationally,[9] as was the quality of New Zealand trees which were used for spars and masts. Several times the possibility of commercial papermaking from the fibre from Phormium tenax has been investigated, but currently it is used only by artists and craftsmen producing handmade papers. Although the Māori made textiles from a number of other plants, including tī kōuka, tōī, pingao, kiekie, toetoe and the paper mulberry, the use of harakeke and wharariki was predominant. [7], During the early Musket Wars and later New Zealand Wars, Māori used large, thickly woven flax mats to cover entrances and lookout holes in their "gunfighter's pā" fortifications. "[31][32] Mills were burnt too. The Purchas And Ninnis Flax", "Rangitahi Peninsula Archaeological and Cultural Survey and Assessment – Report for Raglan Land Company", "Report Of The Committee Of The Industrial Exhibition", "Papers Past — Timaru Herald — 2 February 1870 — The Timaru Herald. days a boy gets a man’s wage. P. tenax occurs naturally in New Zealand and Norfolk Island, while P. colensoi is endemic to New Zealand. In fact, the flax from which linen comes could hardly be more different than our hefty, clump-forming phormiums. donated by Rene Orchiston of Gisborne. However, as with identifying many plants or animals it’s not that simple. Description Tougher than other purperea Phormiums, yet more vivid Size 80-90cm high x 80-90cm wide [25], In boom times flax was profitable. Harakeke is used as bandages and can secure broken bones much as plaster is used today. Coloured flaxes are not usually used for weaving, although they can be used for smaller items such as woven flowers, or can be added as a feature to other weaving. A large mill at Halswell had six of their patent strippers by 1868. All of these plants came in foliage shades of green and a few bronze-red. £4; 2 tons 8cwt. Common Name: New Zealand Flax. Most varieties are variegated, and each variety can have a wide range of colours in its leaves. The Phormium hybrids around today all found their start in New Zealand. Rugged New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax, and its selections are sturdy and fast growing. With the help of wakas, pre-European Māori deployed seine nets which could be over one thousand metres long. The mature size of your New Zealand flax plant will depend on the variety and your growing conditions. Improvements by 1910 increased that to 1.27 tonnes a day. Tough, easy to grow and … Otherwise, very easy care. donated by Rene Orchiston of Gisborne. Fibers obtained from white flower flax are harder, so they have a low value, as opposed to purple flower flax. 1.2m. Wharariki has softer leaves and … Some warriors wore coats of heavily plaited Phormium tenax, which gave defense characteristics similar to a medieval gambeson, slowing musket balls to be wounding rather than deadly. 7 Flax Facts . In 1890 a report on a fire in a large quantity of growing flax said, "These fires in most cases arise from gross carelessness, which might easily be avoided. The Maori name for this plant is harakeke. Since each of the cultivars can only be propagated by breaking off fans of young leaves from a parental plant, 15 years may elapse between the time a new variety is produced and sufficient … Splints were fashioned from korari (flower stalks) and leaves, and fine cords of muka fibre utilise the styptic properties of the gel before being used to stitch wounds. LATEST TELEGRAMS", "Progress Of New Zealand In Manufactures", "4. Permission from Manaaki Whenua: Landcare Research New Zealand Limited must be obtained before the re-use of this image. It is a mild anaesthetic, and Māori traditionally applied the sap to boils and various wounds, to aching teeth, to rheumatic and associated pains, ringworm and various skin irritations, and scalds and burns. Different type of cloaks, such as kahu kiwi and kahu kākā, were produced by adorning them with colourful feathers from different native birds, such as kiwi, kaka (parrot), tui, huia and kereru (woodpigeon). [43][44] By 1913 a commentator wrote, "A few years ago flax milling was largely done by boys who received a few shillings per day, now in these more enlightened (?) The flax notcher moth (Tmeolphota steropastis), also native to New Zealand and a nocturnal feeder, leaves notches at the edges of young leaves (Scheele, 2016). There are two species of New Zealand flax. Characteristics: Gardeners know it as a large and often colorful spiky plant that makes an arresting focal point in the garden or in containers. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 New Zealand Licence. The yield of flax cultures varies depending on the purpose and variety of the flax seeds used, given that this plant is cultivated for both seed and fiber. Phormium Tenax is the New Zealand Flax. Already in the past the quantity of green flax destroyed by this agency is very great. In the time that we have been growing and selling this group of plants we have learned much about them. Fibres of various strengths were used to fashion eel traps (hinaki), surprisingly large fishing nets (kupenga) and lines, bird snares, cordage for ropes, baskets (kete), bags, mats, clothing, sandals (paraerae), buckets, food baskets (rourou), and cooking utensils etc. New Zealand flax plant care is minimal once plants are mature, but the flax may suffer damaged and shredded leaf tips in windy and exposed sites. New Zealand flax is grown primarily for its colorful, architectural foliage. All rights reserved. Find flax plant stock images in HD and millions of other royalty-free stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the Shutterstock collection. For 4 tons the cost was calculated as depreciation 12s, 8 men's wages @ 25s a week, £10; an engineman £1 15; 12 lads @ 12s, £7 4s; 24 tons of green flax @ 15s £18; packing, baling, etc. Nov 8, 2018 - If you are unfamiliar with the range of colors and styles that Phormium come in then you are about to see just how big of an impact Phormium can have on your landscaping endeavors. [5], Chemical analysis shows the antifungal, anti-inflammatory drug,[6] musizin, and laxative anthraquinones are in common and mountain flaxes. In 1963 there were still 14 flax mills producing a total of almost 5,000 tons of fibre per year, but the last of them closed in 1985. They also made baskets, mats and fishing nets from undressed flax. Production peaked between 1901 and 1918, but rust, depression and pasture replacing flax swamps, resulted in almost all mills closing by the 1930s. National New Zealand Flax Collection. 1.3m x 1.3m. Carex buchananii. There are many varieties of each of these two species. Manaaki Whenua is kaitiaki of a collection of traditional weaving varieties of harakeke (NZ flax, Phormium spp.) New Zealand flax describes the common New Zealand perennial plants Phormium tenax and Phormium colensoi, known by the Māori names harakeke and wharariki respectively. Boiled and crushed harakeke roots were applied externally as a poultice for boils, tumours and abscesses, as well as to varicose ulcers. The flax trade burgeoned, especially after male Māori recognised the advantages of trade and adapted to helping in the harvesting and dressing of flax which had previously been done exclusively by females. The first method is the traditional way and if the flax variety is suited to it, it is less time-consuming. Grasses & flax for sale in New Zealand. Landcare Research – Manaaki Whenua Photographs by Robert Lamberts and Sue Scheele. The cords (muka whenu) form the base cloth for intricate cloaks or garments (kākahu) such as the highly prized traditional feather cloak (kahu huruhuru). The flax tolerates partial sun but will perform better in full sun situations. Phormium tenax (left), also known as harakeke or swamp flax, has stiff leaves, red flowers, and upright seed pods. An 1870 news item said an acre, with 2 crops a year, could produce 2 tons of fibre, equating to £40 a year, or a net profit of £27 0s 3d, the cost being estimated at £12 19s 9d. "[41] The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1894[42] and growth of unions improved the low pay and conditions. Astelia 'Westland' A red or bronze form of this popular native. There are two varieties of New Zealand flax - Phormium tenax or Harakeke and Phormium cookianum or Wharariki. There are large varieties that can reach 10 feet in height with either green or bronze coloring depending on the variety. Harakeke has stiff leaves and grows mainly in lowland swamps. The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. The focus is on adaptation to Eastern Canada, high yield, lodging resistance and enhanced quality. [20] Many others patented variations, but the basic design was that leaves were fed between rollers, then hit by iron beaters, revolving faster than the feeder, thus stripping the epidermis from the fibre. Welcome to part 1 of my tutorial on how to prepare Harakeke (NZ Flax - Phormium Tenax) for weaving - see also my website www.flaxworx.co.nz A striking native flax like plant with long silver leaves. Machinery was estimated at £500 – 8 hp engine with Cornish boiler £200; 4 strippers @ £22, £88; scutching hooks, £15; a screw press £12; building £185. The green fleshy substance of the leaf was stripped off, again using a mussel shell, right through to the fibre which went through several processes of washing, bleaching, fixing, softening, dyeing and drying. All 'fancy flax' or ornamental flax cultivars are derived from these parents. Avoid planting phormium under trees that shed, like redwoods. Now, there are countless variegated forms in differing heights and mixes of color from pinks, whites, reds, … [17] Johnstone Dougall (1822–1892), a carpenter,[18] also invented a flax-stripper about 1868, which he put in his first mill at Waiuku. [38][39][40] Initially unions were resisted, as in the report of an 1891 strike, which said, "Mr Hall intends to proceed to Auckland for the purpose of procuring fresh men to work the mill. The 50 harakeke were selected long ago from natural stands and cultivated by Māori weavers for their special leaf and fibre properties. No varieties have been released yet, however, the program has reached maturity and several cultivars should be released soon. While most phormiums dislike humid summers and cold winters, New Zealand flax accepts the Southern climate. All non-text content is subject to specific conditions. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1870. Manaaki Whenua is kaitiaki of a collection of traditional weaving varieties of harakeke (NZ flax, Phormium spp.) The pulp of pounded leaves was applied as dressings to bullet, bayonet or other wounds. © Copyright image. Old New Zealand: being Incidents of Native Customs and Character in the Old Times by 'A Pakeha Maori' (Frederick Edward Maning), originally published 1863. http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/HeritageImages/index.htm, The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1894, "The Flax Industry | Saint Helena Island Info: All about St Helena, in the South Atlantic Ocean", "Wharariki, Phormium – The University of Auckland", "History of the Phormium Fibre Export Trade", "Designing the Future – Celebrating the Past", "Private Acts. [10] "The taking of slaves increased – slaves who could be put to work dressing flax...". There are three types of fiber flax flower varieties: white, purple and blue. New Zealand Flax Varieties There are many colourful and variegated varieties of New Zealand Flax on the market today these include-Phormium Anna Red Flax- clear bright colour of dark red/maroon/purple leaves that grows to 1.2m high, 1m wide. Looks good in a pot, massed planted or used as contrast. of coal, £2 8s and freight etc., £5. Maori woman wearing the traditional costume made of flax fibre, c. 1880, Photo of Rewi Manga Maniapoto in a flax cloak, 1879, For centuries, Māori have used nectar from the flowers for medicinal purposes and as a general sweetener. The flax, from 11 different varieties, are significant to Māori weavers and have been translocated from a private property on the outskirts the Hamilton. It is easy to maintain, drought tolerant when established and makes a good erosion control. [15] It took a ton of leaves a day[16] and produced about 0.2 long tons (200 kg) of fibre. Suggested Varieties of New Zealand Flax. The Royal Navy was one of the largest customers. The specimens – - ruahine, whareongaonga, wharariki, tūtaewheke, taiore, atarau, wharanui and tukura - were from the collection of local weaver Penney Cameron, who had obtained them over several years. 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