Hau.rain.—On the Growth of Phormium tenax. 357 
C. View of column and lip, showing the position taken by the lip when 
touched. 
D. Front view of the upper part of the column, with the appendages cut 
off, so as to show the rostellum, and pollinia loose in their anther-cells. 
E. Single pollinium removed from the anther. 
a., anther ; c., column ; /., lip ; p., pollinia ; r., rostellum ; s., stigma. 
A. and B. natural size; C. D. and E. magnified. 
Art. XLVIIL—On the Growth of Phormium tenax. 
By the Hon. Col. HAULTAIN. 
[Read before the Auckland Institute, 24th June, 1872.] 
Tue growth of the Phormium plant, the period of its decay, the increase of its 
off-shoots, and more particularly the rate at which the leaves are produced, 
and the time required to bring them to maturity, are questions of great 
importance to those interested in the manufacture of the fibre. 
The attention of the Flax Commissioners, when making their inquiries last 
year, was directed to these points; the mode of growth, and its increase 
under cultivation, were ascertained with some approach to accuracy, and are 
stated in the pages of their report ;* but as that report has not yet been 
generally circulated (though I am glad to say that it has just been reprinted 
with the latest information that can be obtained), and as I have procured 
specimens to illustrate what they have noted, I will repeat the substance of 
their observations. 
The plant when full grown consists ordinarily of a rhizome or prostrate 
stem, from the under side of which numerous fibrous rootlets strike into the 
ground, and from the extreme end a number of leaves proceed in succession, 
decaying and falling off after arriving at maturity. Ata certain period a flower 
stem shoots up from the apex, after which the whole of the leaves and their 
rhizome having completed their functions die away ; but every year various 
fresh side shoots have started from the main rhizome, forming separate fans 
with roots and leaves, receiving at first nourishment from the parent stem, 
and gradually becoming independent plants, producing further shoots, and 
dying away after perfecting flower and seed. In dry, hard ground the rhizome 
is but imperfectly developed, and amongst sand-hills it becomes a vertical 
stem several feet in length, seeking its nourishment at that depth where 
abundant moisture is to be found. 
* App. to Journ. H. of R., 1871, G. No. 4. 
