Phormium tenax 'Hūhiroa'. Harakeke cultivar.
Māori names
Description
Harakeke cultivar.
1) From Flax Commissioners Reports 1870, 1871
Kelly, New Plymouth; bluish green leaf, narrows gradually to a point. Black or very dark brown edge. Reddish chocolate colour keel. Grows luxuriantly, quickly, matures earliest. Good fibre, easily separated from gum by stripping.
Taranaki Native; used for best garments.
West Coast, Heaphy; yields best fibre. Probably Oueroa
Wanganui, Woon; Long fibre. Used for fine and porae mats, fishing lines, nets ropes, etc.
Armstrong, Botanic Gardens, Christchurch; leaf very long, tapering at point, edges light brown .
Opunake Native; Breaking strain, 98
Mantell; Uhiroa ? Planted in Botanic Gardens, Wellington, from seed in 1870
2) New Zealand Department of Agriculture Annual Report 1908 ; Strong, erect, dark green leaves, very pale underneath. Resembles Pūtaiore. Leaf narrow, even thickness, less fibre than Pūtaiore. Fibre highly prized by Māori. Strong bright fibre used in finer work.
3) Lord Ventry"s report ( Kew Bulletin 1919) One of varieties sent to Britain. Grew well in Ireland.
4) Wanganui Māori made samples of Huhiroa for Flax Commissioners Exhibition
5) Best 1942; Huiroa. Fine variety
6) Andersen 1907 ; Excellent fibre, grew very luxuriantly, had a bluish green coloured blade which narrowed gradually to a point. Narrow edges of black or deep brown. Keel of warm reddish brown. Fibre easily separated.
7) Hector 1872; best variety in Wanganui.
8) Viv Gregory Collection, Kaitaia; Very narrow leaved flax, long and dark green in colour. Grows mostly in shady places. Can be jerked off pūtake and when put through flame becomes soft and easy to tie. See also Rautakiri and Pihere. Tying flaxes.
