Flax

Page created 16 Nov 1996
Updated 22 Nov 1996

Scientific species name: Phormium tenax, (swamp flax) Phormium cookianum (mountain flax)
Phormium means "basket or wickerwork" -referring to the use made of the leaf; tenax means "holding fast" referring to the strong fibres⁽¹⁾ ; cookianum named after Captain Cook (this species was first called P. colensoi after the botanist Colenso but the name P. cookianum was published in 1848 scientific circles while P. colensoi wasn't published until 1864. The name that is first published (even if it is not well known) becomes the official scientific name. Even later still, in 1888, the botanist Hook published this flax species as P. hookeri).⁽³⁾
Family: Flax are monocotyledons (= having only one cotyledon, cotyledon = specialised first leaf containing food) and belong to the Agavaceae family (includes the century plant (Agave), aloes and yuccas. This is a small family found in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Species from this family are often found growing in semi-desert situations. The other members of this family to be found in New Zealand are the cabbage trees (Cordyline). It was initially thought that Phormium and Cordyline belonged to the lily family (Liliaceae) because the flowers are rather lily-like.
Maori name (s): Harakeke, harareke or korari (for P. tenax), the Maori have names for special varieties ⁽¹⁾⁽³⁾
(also refer to ⁽⁵⁾⁽⁶⁾ . There even are special flax gardens/museums, now run by Landcare Research⁽¹¹⁾ ).
Wharariki (for P. cookianum) ⁽³⁾⁽⁶⁾
Common name(s): New Zealand flax or hemp

Description: Flax leaves are long and sword shaped, dark green in colour and often have coloured edges and midribs. The leaves can be up to 3 metres long ⁽⁴⁾ , depending on the variety of flax. Leaves of the mountain flax (P. cookianum) are much shorter and generally not so stiff.

Flax has many tube-like flowers, in shades from yellow (P. cookianum) through to bright red (P. tenax), held on long spears, up to 5 m long ⁽⁴⁾, above the foliage. P. tenax flowers are 2.5 to 5 cm long while P. cookianum flowers are smaller (1.5 to 4 cm long). ⁽¹⁾ The flowers produce copious quantities of nectar that is much loved by all nectar feeding birds and insects. Flax flowers in November in Auckland.

The fruit is a seed capsule that looks rather like a fat twisted beanpod. These split open to release hundreds of small (about 0.5 cm long) black seed that are light enough to be spread by the wind.

Distribution: Both species of flax are found throughout New Zealand at most altitudes (lowland, montane, sub-alpine) with Phormium cookianum extending into the alpine regions too. Phormium tenax is commonly, but not exclusively, found in swamps ⁽¹⁾, while P. cookianum is as common on the coast as it is in the mountains. P. cookianum can be found on rocks close to the water or, more often, on steep cliffs and rocky promontories. ⁽²⁾
Where little or no flax (P. tenax) was to be found the Maori would plant it near to their villages.⁽⁶⁾
Flax is grown as a commercial crop in various places around the world. ^(5)(10)

Uses: Flax (Phormium tenax) was an extremely useful plant to the Maori in olden days. It was used to provide clothing, ropes and cords, fishingnets and lines, baskets, mats, wall hanging and panels and numerous other things. There are many varieties of flax, a few were highly prized for the quality of the fibre they yielded and these would be planted close to villages for easy supply. Lesser varieties would be used for ordinary purposes. In some areas only mountain flax (P. cookianum) was found, this was considered to be an inferior species for most purposes, and swamp flax (P. tenax) would be planted to make up for this. ⁽⁶⁾

New Zealand had a thriving flax fibre industry until a disease (flax yellow-leaf, caused by an organism thought to be similar to the one killing cabbage trees) ruined the industry in the 1950;s. While the industry was still happily going millions of rope and woolbale coverings were made.⁽⁷⁾ Flax was even introduced into Britain in the nineteenth century and was later used there for making twine and rope.⁽⁸⁾ It was found to be stronger than the European flax fibre,⁽⁹⁾ and is still grown commercially today. For a bit more about the history of flax growing look at ^(9)(10).

Flax leaves and fibres are still being used today to make traditional Maori items, but it is also gaining favour as an artistic medium.
Some peculiar superstitions and believes are associated with flax. When it was planted near a village the planters would note and remember what wind was blowing at that time. When the leaves were ready for harvesting they would be cut during the prevalence of the same wind. Cutting in a wind of a different direction would cause inferior fibres. ⁽⁶⁾

A leaf of flax was used by the Maori priest to enable the demon causing illness to escape from the sufferer, a magical rather than medicinal use.⁽¹⁰⁾

The flower stalks are very light and, when dry, were tied together in bundles and these were then bound together to form light rafts, or mokihi, on which rivers and lakes were crossed, using poles - not paddles.⁽⁷⁾

The flowers can be eaten, but the rest of the plant causes severe diarrhoea. The flowers also contain great quantities of sweet nectar which can be sucked out. They are invaluable as survival food when lost in the bush. ⁽⁵⁾ The liquid from boiled flowers and flowerbuds was used to dye fibres in shades of fawn, brown, tan, khaki and apricot. ⁽⁷⁾

Flax is also a great survival tool kit. The strong leathery leaves can be used as splints or to bind splints in place and because flax sap has antiseptic, mild anaesthetic and blood clotting qualities it won't cause the wound to go sceptic and will provide some pain relief.

The soft fibres in the leaves can be used in the same way as cotton wool or lint and were used as baby's nappies. ^(5)(10)

Flax was used in many other medicinal ways too. The base of the leaves applied to broken boils, tumours or abscesses, will bring them to a head. They were also boiled by the Maori and the liquid was drunk for relief from constipation. The juice from the pounded root was used as a purgative and to destroy and expel parasitic worms. Applied externally, it was said to cure ringworm and skin irritations. The red jelly substance found at the base of the leaves was used to treat burns, scalds, old sores and scored on to areas of rheumatic or associated pains. A poultice of roasted, pounded roots was used for abscesses and varicose ulcers, . ⁽⁵⁾⁽⁷⁾

Flax-root juice, applied raw or after boiling the roots, was the favourite native cure for gunshot or bayonet wounds during the New Zealand Wars.⁽¹⁰⁾

References:
⁽¹⁾ A.L. Poole & Nancy M. Adams (1986) Trees and shrubs of New Zealand.
⁽²⁾ J.T. Salmon (1991) Native New Zealand flowering plants.
⁽³⁾ Lucy B. Moore & Elizabeth Edgar (1970) Flora of New Zealand: Volume II; Indigenous Tracheophyta monocotelydons except Gramineae.
⁽⁴⁾ J.T. Salmon (1963) New Zealand flowers and plants in colour.
⁽⁵⁾ Gwen Skinner (1993) Simply living. A gatherer's guide to New Zealand's fields, forests and shores.
⁽⁶⁾ Elsdon Best (1977) Forest lore of the Maori.
⁽⁷⁾ Christina Macdonald (1979) Medicines of the Maori.
⁽⁸⁾ Reader's Digest: Magic and medicine of plants (1994)
⁽⁹⁾ Muriel Fisher, E. Satchell & Janet Watkins (1985) Gardening with New Zealand plants, shrubs & trees.
⁽¹⁰⁾ S.G. Brooker, R.C. Cambie & R.C. Cooper (1987) New Zealand medicinal plants.
⁽¹¹⁾ S Scheele & G Walls (1994) Harakeke - the Rene Orchiston Collection (Revised Edition)

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