Phormium tenax 'Tarariki'. Harakeke cultivar.
Māori names
Māori names
Description
Harakeke cultivar.
1) The following notes have been taken from the Flax Commissioners Report 1870, 1871:
Kelly, New Plymouth. Not described
Taranaki Native. Rough garments, ropes only.
Opunake Native. Breaking strain = 70
Heaphy, West Coast. Stiff fibre
Woon, Wanganui. Fine and soft texture used for pota or ornamented mats. Tapering, acuminate leaves - dull olive green, lighter on the outer side. Dark red keel and edge. Keel on the upper side gradually shaded away, forming a dark coloured band 1/8 to 3/8 of an inch broad. 2 or 3 inches of the point of the leaves of the same dark colour.
2) Andersen 1907: Dull deep green with dark red edge and keel. Points of leaves being coloured like the edges for the length of a finger.
3) Best 1942: a variety of wharariki, Phormium cookianum.
