492 THE NEW ZEALAND FAMILY HERB DOCTOR, 
NATIVE MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
We are sorry that so little attention has been given to this 
class of plants. This is no doubt due to the fact that there is 
such an endless variety of others imported growing wild and 
cultivated. We have collected all the information we could 
concerning those that the Maoris have been using for 
generations, and are indebted to our manager, Mr. King, of 
Auckland for the following descriptive notes, which he 
gathered for our work. 
FLAX (PHORMIUM TENAX.) 
(Native name, HARA-KEKE OR KORARI.) 
The fresh root is pounded and the juice used as a lotion to 
kill ringworm, also by natives to prevent galling of the skin 
of infants. It is taken internally to stop bleeding of the 
bowels and dysentery. The pulp of the bruised root it is 
tied tightly over wounds to stop bleeding. Mixed with equal 
proportions of the Kohia berry it is taken internally for 
flatulency. The gum found in the folds of the leaf near the 
root is put into water and applied to burns, scalds, and old 
sores, with good results. The roots roasted on a wood fire and 
beaten into a pulp are used warm as a poultice for abscesses 
or swollen limbs or joints. 
HI NAU (Etarorcarpus Hina.) 
This produces a berry about half an inch long, oblong in 
shape, and of a dusky olive colour. The berry is covered with 
a thin but tough rind, and between it and the kernel is a soft, 
flour-like meal of an olive colour. This is prepared for food 
by steeping some months in water and then dried in the sun. 
2 is too oily for European palates. The bark yields a brown 
ye. 
KARAKA (Corynocarpus L2VIGATA.) 
The berry of this tree, after an elaborate process of 
preparation, is eaten. The kernel, however, contains a 
