New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

Varietal differences and environmental effects on fibre extracted from Phormium leaves and prepared for traditional Maori weaving

Warwick Harris*

Suzanne M. Scheele

Guy J. Forrester

Landcare Research
PO Box 40
Lincoln 7640, New Zealand

harrisw@landcareresearch.co.nz

Kahutoi Te Kanawa

Margaret Murray

Edna Pahewa

Te Roopu Raranga/Whatu o Aotearoa
PO Box 9570
Wellington 6141, New Zealand

*Present address: Lincoln Botanical, 16 Aylmers Valley Road, Akaroa 7520, New Zealand.

Abstract The aim of the research was to determine varietal differences and the effect of growing conditions on fibre (muka) extracted from leaf strips of 12 weaving varieties of Phormium grown at nine sites in New Zealand. Fibre was extracted by the traditional haro method using either the sharp edge of a mussel shell or a knife. Notes were made on the ease with which fibre could be extracted and cleaned of other leaf tissue, and of visual and tactile assessments of the suitability of the extracted fibre for weaving. The lengths and weights of extracted fibre strands were measured. Varieties that stripped easily to provide muka for weaving were clearly distinguished. There were both well-defined and subtle differences in fibre qualities between the varieties discerned by the qualitative assessments. Both site and varietal differences were well defined for extracted fibre strand length and weight. Significant site × variety interactions for these quantitative measures indicated changes in the characteristics of varieties in response to environmental differences between sites. Relationships between Phormium leaf properties that define plaiting (raranga) and weaving (whatu) varieties were examined.

Keywords fibre; muka; weaving; whatu; Phormium; New Zealand flax; harakeke; Maori varieties; variety × environment interaction

B07025; Online publication date 24 September 2008
Received 20 July 2007; accepted 5 September 2008

New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2008, Vol. 46:401–423
0028–825X/08/4604–0401 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2008

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