l^ew Zealand Flax Plant. 51 



The spatbes at this stage added much to the effect, their 

 interior beiug of a deep orange colour. Our weather had 

 been rather dry for some time, which seemed to retard the 

 opening of the buds ; hut after a heavy sliower of rain on 

 August 1, the buds rapidly increased in size, and in three or 

 four days the first flowers opened ; they were tubular in 

 shape, IJ or 2 inches in length, of a deep red colour, with 

 projecting orange stamens. The odour of the flowers was 

 powerful, like that of Eussia leather. It seemed to be 

 very attractive to bees, moths, and other insects. Each 

 main stem bore at least 300 flowers. Altogether it is a 

 most magnificent example of the lily family, and the 

 general appearance of the plant is highly suggestive of 

 tropical vegetation. It is well known tliat the fibre of the 

 leaves possesses extraordinary tenacity, though, from its 

 containing a large quantity of silica in its composition, the 

 economic value of the plant has hitherto fallen short of 

 what was at first expected. For the manufacture of ropes 

 and cordage, however, I should think it most valuable. 

 The leaf, even in its natural state, is so strong and pliable, 

 that I have seen strips of it torn off and used as boot-laces ; 

 and it is evident that the flower-stalks partake of the same 

 tough character as the leaves, as they were not at all 

 damaged by the equinoctial gales of last September, though 

 they were not tied to sticks or otherwise secured from injury. 

 I may add that the flowers, after lasting for some two 

 months, were succeeded by numerous seed capsules contain- 

 ing apparently well-ripened seeds. I understand that two 

 other plants from the same batch of seeds have also 

 flowered this season ; one at Strathkinness, here, and 

 another at Professor Swan's residence on the west coast. 

 It is curious that they should all flower in the eighth year of 

 their age, but whether the phenomenon is attributable to 

 that cause entirely, or to any peculiarity in the past season, 

 time alone can determine. 



