106 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



They are visited constantly by the tnis and parrots, whicli 

 thus cross-pollinate them. The seeds are black, shining, flat, 

 and packed closely in a capsule. 



This plant has often been used medicinally. A pulp made 

 from the roasted and macerated roots is sometimes applied as 

 a poultice tor abscesses, while a decoction of the same is said 

 to act like a charm upon unbroken chilblains. The soft part 

 at the base of the leaf is placed over wounds to stop bleeding, 

 though some bushmen have an idea that the juice of the leaf 

 acts as a poison to a cut, and aver that cuts obtained in the 

 handling of the leaves in a flax-mill usually fester. 



A great C|uantity of the flax-flbre is now exported annually, 

 and is at present valued at £2i per ton. The Maoris used 

 this fibre for various purposes, such as making fishing-nets, 

 cloth, and many ornamental articles. 



Love-tokens are said to have been made by the Maoris in 

 the early days from strips of flax-leaves.* A double slip-knot 

 was formed, which, if tightly pulled, ran into one large single 

 knot. The double loop was presented by the young Maori to 

 his sweetheart, wlro signified her consent to his silent proposal, 

 by drawing the two knots into one. 



A flax-stick, or dried flower stem, is known to colonists as 

 a korari, koradi, or kaladi. Tlie first name is of course, the 

 correct one (v. Accena). It is very light and full of a 

 brown pith. By the Maoris of old time these stems were put 

 to many uses. 



The Leaf of Phormium. 



The leaf of the flax is one of tire strongest and most 

 remarkable known. When fully grown it attains a length of from 

 three to ten feet, with a breadtlr of from 3in. to iin. The colour 

 varies from light yellow-green to a deep blue-green, with a 

 yellow or red margin. There are, however, many varieties. 

 The Maoris recognized more than fifty. Some of the cultivated 



' .7ohn White's " Te Eon, or The Maori at Home." 



