Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

puakaito, tikumu, matua-tikumu; pūharetāiko, pūwharetāiko, pūheretāiko (recorded by W.L. Williams) 

leather plant, cotton daisy, New Zealand Aster, horse daisy, cotton plant, mountain daisy

Leathery leaved species. C. spectabilis is found along the North Island axial ranges, on the central volcanoes, and coastal hills in eastern Wairarapa. In the South Island it occurs in the mountains of Northwest Nelson, Marlborough and the dryer ranges east of the Main Divide.

Some tribes seem to have used leaf to make rough capes (Best 1907).

The downy undersurface of the leaf used by females to ornament their hair (Kirk, in Taylor 1870; Colenso 1868a, 1881b)

Leaves used for scent (Best 1907). Aromatic leaves used to make chaplets for women (Best 1898)

In Tūhoe district, found only at Maungapohatu. Sometimes transplanted and grown near villages (Best 1907)

Leaves have fine, soft lint like tissue, often used for dressing wounds in early days (Fulton 1922).

Related pharmacological and chemistry notes (Brooker, Cambie and Cooper 1987).

These uses can also refer to other species of large-leaved Celmisia, in particular C. semicordata ( in the South Island).