New Zealand flax

The naturalist Jacques Labillardière collected indigenous flax plants when French ships visited the far north of the North Island of New Zealand in 1793. He had noted the many uses the Maori had put to the plant and in 1803 gave it the scientific name Phormium, meaning "basket" or "wickerwork", and tenax meaning "tenacity" or "holding fast". Plaiting and weaving (raranga) the flax fibres into baskets were but only two of the great variety of uses made of flax by Maori who recognised nearly 60 varieties, and who carefully propagated their own fla ...

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New Zealand flax, New Zealand flax - Appearance, New Zealand flax - Versatility, New Zealand flax - Medicinal properties, New Zealand flax - Defence uses, New Zealand flax - International trade, New Zealand flax - External link

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Common flax (also known as linseed) is a member of the Linaceae family, which includes about 150 plant species widely distributed around the world. Some of them are grown in domestic flower beds, as flax is one of the few truly blue flowers. (Most "blue" flowers are really a shade of purple.) Under the dwindling Cronquist system of classifying the flowering plants, flax and related plants were placed in an order Linales. Modern classifications place them in the order Malpighiales. Flax is a Natural Fiber that belo ...

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• Flax - Usage of Flax
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• Flax - Trivia

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The major fibre flax-producing countries are the former USSR, Poland, France, Belgium and the Czech Republic. The soils most suitable for flax, besides the alluvial kind, are deep friable loams, and such as contain a large proportion of organic matter in their composition. Strong clays do not answer well, nor soils of a gravelly or dry sandy nature. But whatever be the kind of soil, it ought neither to be in too poor nor too rich a condition because, in the latter case, the flax is apt to grow too luxuriant and produce a coarse sort and, in the former case, the plant affords ...

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Flax, Flax - Usage of Flax, Flax - Cultivating flax, Flax - Dressing flax, Flax - Trivia

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The major fibre flax-producing countries are the former USSR, Poland, France, Belgium and the Czech Republic. The soils most suitable for flax, besides the alluvial kind, are deep friable loams, and such as contain a large proportion of organic matter in their composition. Strong clays do not answer well, nor soils of a gravelly or dry sandy nature. But whatever be the kind of soil, it ought neither to be in too poor nor too rich a condition because, in the latter case, the flax is apt to grow too luxuriant and produce a coarse sort and, in the former case, the plant affords ...

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Flax, Flax - Usage of Flax, Flax - Flax seed, Flax - Flax fiber, Flax - Cultivating flax, Flax - Dressing flax, Flax - Trivia

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Flax, or Linum usitatissimum, is grown both for seed and for fibre. Flax - Flax seed. The seeds produce flaxseed oil. After processing by solvent extraction, flaxseed oil is called linseed oil, which is one of the oldest commercial oils and has been used for centuries as a drying oil in painting and varnishing. The use of flax seed and flaxseed oil (which is the most concentrated source of the omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid) as a ...

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Flax, Flax - Usage of Flax, Flax - Flax seed, Flax - Flax fiber, Flax - Cultivating flax, Flax - Dressing flax, Flax - Trivia

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Flax, or L. usitatissimum, is grown both for seed and for fibre. The seeds produce linseed oil, which is one of the oldest commercial oils and which has been used for centuries as a drying oil in painting and varnishing. The use of flax seed and flax seed oil (which is high in omega-3 linolenic acid) as a nutritional supplement is increasing. Consuming one to two tablespoons of ground flax seeds (from a coffee or spice grinder) or one teaspoon of fresh flax seed oil daily is a possible alternative to oily fish or fish oil supplements ...

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Flax, Flax - Usage of Flax, Flax - Cultivating flax, Flax - Dressing flax, Flax - Trivia

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St. Helena was discovered May 21, 1502, by the Portuguese navigator João da Nova, and named for Helena of Constantinople. The Portuguese found it uninhabited, and built a chapel and some houses, although no permanent settlement was founded. A temporary Dutch settlement was maintained from 1645 until 1651, after which the Island was controlled by the British East India Company. The Dutch retook the Island in 1673, but were ejected after two months occupation. The British East India Company used the Island as a stop off on the long voyage to India via the Cape of Good Hope ...

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Saint Helena, Saint Helena - History, Saint Helena - Demographics, Saint Helena - Economy, Saint Helena - Geography, Saint Helena - Subdivisions, Saint Helena - Politics, Saint Helena - Transport

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See main article History of Saint Helena. St. Helena was discovered May 21, 1502, by the Portuguese navigator João da Nova. The island was uninhabited when it was discovered by the Portuguese explorers. It was settled about 1645 by the Dutch. In 1651, it passed to the British East India Company, but was retaken by the Dutch several times. Like every remote island in the age of sail, it was a crucial resource for sailing ships that ventured into its waters. (The important ships among these were of naval and commer ...

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Saint Helena, Saint Helena - History, Saint Helena - Demographics, Saint Helena - Economy, Saint Helena - Geography, Saint Helena - Subdivisions, Saint Helena - Politics

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See main article Economy of Saint Helena. The island had a monocrop economy until 1966, based on the cultivation and processing of New Zealand flax for rope and string. St Helena's economy is now very weak, and the island is almost entirely sustained on aid from London. The St. Helena tourist industry is heavily based around the promotion of Napoleon's imprisonment. Two sites where Napoleon lived and the valley where he was buried are French territory. A golf course also exist and the possibility for sportfishing tourism are great. Ascension, Tristan da Cunha and St. Helena all issue their own postage st ...

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Saint Helena, Saint Helena - History, Saint Helena - Demographics, Saint Helena - Economy, Saint Helena - Geography, Saint Helena - Subdivisions, Saint Helena - Politics, Saint Helena - Transport

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See main article Economy of Saint Helena. The island had a monocrop economy until 1966, based on the cultivation and processing of New Zealand flax for rope and string. St Helena's economy is now very weak, and the island is almost entirely sustained on aid from London. The St. Helena tourist industry is heavily based around the promotion of Napoleon's imprisonment. Two sites where Napoleon lived and the valley where he was buried are French territory. Ascension, Tristan da Cunha and St. Helena all issue their own postage st ...

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Saint Helena, Saint Helena - History, Saint Helena - Demographics, Saint Helena - Economy, Saint Helena - Geography, Saint Helena - Subdivisions, Saint Helena - Politics, Saint Helena - Transport

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The territory is divided into three areas for administration purposes: Saint Helena is also divided into the following districts. ...

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Main article: Politics of Saint Helena Executive authority in Saint Helena is invested in The Queen and is exercised on her behalf by the Governor of Saint Helena. The Governor is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the British Government. Defence and Foreign Affairs remain the responsibility of the United Kingdom. There are 15 seats in the Legislative Council, a unicameral legislature. 12 of the 15 members are elected in elections held every four years. The other three members are the Gove ...

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Saint Helena, Saint Helena - History, Saint Helena - Demographics, Saint Helena - Economy, Saint Helena - Geography, Saint Helena - Subdivisions, Saint Helena - Politics, Saint Helena - Transport

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Saint Helena as a total area of 410 km², and consists of three island groups: Saint Helena itself, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha. Each Island group has its own distinct geography. Saint Helena has a rugged, volcanic terrain. There are several rocks and islets off the coast, including: Castle Rock, Speery Island, The Needle, Lower Black Rock, Upper Black Rock (South), Bird Island (Southwest), Black Rock, Thompson's Valley Island, Peaked Island, Egg Island, Lady's Chair, Lighter Rock (West), Long Ledge (Northwest), Shore Island ...

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Saint Helena, Saint Helena - History, Saint Helena - Demographics, Saint Helena - Economy, Saint Helena - Geography, Saint Helena - Subdivisions, Saint Helena - Politics

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Executive authority in Saint Helena is invested in The Queen and is exercised on her behalf by the Governor of Saint Helena. The Governor is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the British Government. Defence and Foreign Affairs remain the responsibility of the United Kingdom. There are 15 seats in the Legislative Council, a unicameral legislature. 12 of the 15 members are elected in elections held every four years. The other three members are the Governor and two ex officio officers. The Executive Council consists of the G ...

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Saint Helena, Saint Helena - History, Saint Helena - Demographics, Saint Helena - Economy, Saint Helena - Geography, Saint Helena - Subdivisions, Saint Helena - Politics, Saint Helena - Transport

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See main article Demographics of Saint Helena. Saint Helena has a small population of a few thousand people, mainly descended from people from the British Isles, Scandinavia and Western and Southern Africa. In recent decades, many have migrated to the Falkland Islands or to the United Kingdom. According to the statistics in the 2005 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, St. Helena has the largest proportion of members of that faith of any country or territory in the world; one person in twenty-nine is a Jehovah's Witn ...

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Saint Helena, Saint Helena - History, Saint Helena - Demographics, Saint Helena - Economy, Saint Helena - Geography, Saint Helena - Subdivisions, Saint Helena - Politics

Read more here: » Saint Helena: Encyclopedia II - Saint Helena - Demographics

See main article Economy of Saint Helena. The island had a monocrop economy until 1966, based on the cultivation and processing of New Zealand flax for rope and string. St Helena's economy is now very weak, and the island is almost entirely sustained on aid from London. The St. Helena tourist industry is heavily based around the promotion of Napoleon's imprisonment. Two sites where Napoleon lived and the valley where he was buried are French territory. The Saint Helenian pound is the local currency, and is on a par with the Pound Sterling. The government of St. Helena ...

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Saint Helena, Saint Helena - History, Saint Helena - Demographics, Saint Helena - Economy, Saint Helena - Geography, Saint Helena - Subdivisions, Saint Helena - Politics

Read more here: » Saint Helena: Encyclopedia II - Saint Helena - Economy

In the very early 1800s the quality of rope materials made from New Zealand flax was already widely known internationally, as was the quality of New Zealand trees which were used for spars and masts, and the British Navy was one of the very largest customers. The flax trade burgeoned, especially after male Maori recognised the advantages of trade and adapted to helping in the harvesting and dressing of flax which had previously been done exclusively by females ...

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New Zealand flax, New Zealand flax - Appearance, New Zealand flax - Versatility, New Zealand flax - Medicinal properties, New Zealand flax - Defence uses, New Zealand flax - International trade, New Zealand flax - External link

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During the early Musket Wars and later New Zealand Wars, Maori used large, thickly woven flax mats to cover entrances and lookout holes in their pa fortifications. Some warriors wore a type of vest jacket fashioned from heavily plaited sections of flax. If they weren’t deliberately designed to have the same effect as today’s flak jackets, they achieved the same purpose by decelerating a musket ball so successfully its e ...

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New Zealand flax, New Zealand flax - Appearance, New Zealand flax - Versatility, New Zealand flax - Medicinal properties, New Zealand flax - Defence uses, New Zealand flax - International trade, New Zealand flax - External link

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For centuries, Maori had collected the abundant nectar from the flowers to make a crude honey and to generally sweeten foods, but it was the myriad of medicinal uses that made the plant so important to the everyday health of Maori. Image:Flax-nz-750.jpg Flax roots were boiled and crushed and applied externally as a poultice for boils, tumours and abscesses, as well as to varicose ulcers. Juice from the pounded roots was widely used as a disinfectant, and taken internally to relieve constipation or expe ...

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New Zealand flax, New Zealand flax - Appearance, New Zealand flax - Versatility, New Zealand flax - Medicinal properties, New Zealand flax - Defence uses, New Zealand flax - International trade, New Zealand flax - External link

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The tough, sword-shaped leaves grow up to three metres long and up to 125 mm wide. They are usually darkish green but sometimes have coloured edges and central ribs. Cultivated varieties range from light green through pink to deep russet bronze. There are numerous variegated cultivars with leaves marked by contrasting stripes in shades of green, red, bronze, pink and yellow. The rigid flower stalks can be up to five meters long, projecting high above the foliage. In November (in New Zealand) they produce clumps of curving tube-like fl ...

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New Zealand flax, New Zealand flax - Appearance, New Zealand flax - Versatility, New Zealand flax - Medicinal properties, New Zealand flax - Defence uses, New Zealand flax - International trade, New Zealand flax - External link

Read more here: » New Zealand flax: Encyclopedia II - New Zealand flax - Appearance