708 Transactions. 
Scirpus frondosus (Pingao).—The pingao grows abundantly on the sand- 
dunes near the coast throughout both Islands. It grows 2 ft. to 3 ft. high, 
and is of a yellow-green colour. The leaves are very numerous, often 
curved, very tough and leathery, channelled above, keeled below, gradually 
narrowed into long points, and expanded at the base into broad mem- 
branous sheaths. The margins and midrib are finely toothed. When dry - 
the leaves have a yellow-orange colour, and are used in the colour-designs - 
in fine mats, baskets, and belts. Inland tribes imported the prepared 
material from their coastal friends. The pingao was also used in the 
Cordyline australis (Cabbage-tree ; Ti-kouka, or Whanake).—The ti-kouka — 
is abundant throughout both Islands, and reaches a height of from 15 є? 
. to 40 ft. The leaves form a dense round head at the top of the stems or — 
branches. They are from 1} ft. to 3 ft. long, 1}in. to 24 in. broad, flat, — 
firm, sea-green, sword-shaped, sharp-tipped, slightly contracted just above — 
the broad sheathing base, and have an indistinct midrib. Тһе fibre in the — 
leaf is strong and durable. The whole leaf is plaited into ropes and baskets, | | 
and their wefts are used for a neat basket, which is usually dyed black. — 
Sandals were also made from the full leaf. Ee 
gr А 
branched, and grows from 5 ft. to 25 ft. in height. The leaves are v 
numerous, spreading all round and forming a massive head. They 
The other species of Cordyline—C. terminalis (ti- C. Ba 
З pore), C. 
(ti-ngahere), and C. pumilio (ti-rauriki)—probably had their leaves. 
on occasion for the same purposes as C. australis. 
| (Wharawhara, Kowharawhara ) .—This 
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le 
for temporary baskets for food, or even as mats to cover the 
cooking in the umu, or oven. : 
Astelia Banksii (Wharawhara, Kowharawhara, Puwharawhara) - 
чорын has a longer and broader leaf than Astelia Cunninghamii, 2 а 
мер and } іп. to 14 іп. broad. It has not such a wide distributic 
ted to the North Island as far south as Hawke's Bay and Т 
