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New Zealand flax - Versatility
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New Zealand flax - Versatility: Encyclopedia II - New Zealand flax - Versatility

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

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

New Zealand flax - Versatility: Encyclopedia II - New Zealand flax - International trade

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

Read more here: » New Zealand flax: Encyclopedia II - New Zealand flax - International trade

New Zealand flax - Versatility: Encyclopedia II - New Zealand flax - Defence uses

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

Read more here: » New Zealand flax: Encyclopedia II - New Zealand flax - Defence uses

New Zealand flax - Versatility: Encyclopedia II - New Zealand flax - Medicinal properties

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

Read more here: » New Zealand flax: Encyclopedia II - New Zealand flax - Medicinal properties

New Zealand flax - Versatility: Encyclopedia II - New Zealand flax - Appearance

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 ...

See also:

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

More material related to New Zealand Flax can be found here:

Main Page
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New Zealand Flax

Index of Articles
related to
New Zealand Flax

Index of Articles
related to
New Zealand flax - Versat...