Carex comans. Maurea. Longwood tussock.
Māori names
Māori names
Common names
Description
Coarse tussock-grass of a reddish brown colour (Best 1907)
Fibre
Belts made from the bright reddish-yellow leaves of the maurea. Had a proportion of flax-fibre mixed with it in order to strengthen it. (Best 1898, 1907 ; Te Rangi Hiroa 1923). [However, a belt in the Auckland Museum is made from the reddish flower stems of Uncinia rubra. Goulding 1971 states that there are no artifacts recorded made from C. comans].
See also Carex flagellifera
Traditions
Famous saying is "He maurea kia whiria". Select the maurea, do not bother about the common weeds. Maurea is a kind of rush with reddish culms used to make ornamental belts. Said to warparty which arrives at small or friendly village (Go to where the chiefs are) (Best 1902: 128; Best 1898: 648). Also mentioned in lament composed by Tamaruru for a dead child (ibid)
