Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

puku tawai (Best 1907)

Fungus which grows on beech trees (Best 1907)

Served as tinder after the introduction of flint and steel (Colenso 1868a).

Used as punk in fire-generating and as a firestick. Carried by travellers. A similar growth on the tawa tree considered useless for this purpose (Best 1907; 1942).

Used in dry conditions as tinder (Cunningham 1927).