Astelia trinervia. Kauri grass. Kōkaha.
Māori names
Common names
Kauri grass (Kirk)
Fibre
With A. solandri and A. banksii, affords..."a material superior to Phormium for the manufacture of paper." (Kirk 1872)
Dyes
Red juice of berries sought by girls and women for cosmetic use (colouring cheeks) (Best 1907).
Domestic
..."and the delicated pellicle with which they are invested has been worked into a charming trimming for ladies" bonnets; the same remark applies to A. solandri. This pellicle... used in the early days of the colony for the wicks of bush-manufactured candles." Cut leaves exude a large quantity of dark jelly-like gum (Kirk 1872)
Tuaka or midrib of kōkaha used in hat making (Best 1907)
Construction
Leaves extensively used for thatching (Kirk 1872)
Medicinal
Seeds good source of essential fatty acids, generally regarded as protective against cardiovascular disease. (Cambie, Ferguson 2003)
