New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts
Extraction, content, strength, and extension of Phormium variety fibres
prepared for traditional Maori weaving
WARWICK HARRIS
Landcare Research
P.O. Box 69
Lincoln, New Zealand
Present address: Lincoln Botanical, 27A Edward Street, Lincoln, Canterbury, New
Zealand.
MAIREHAU TE UA ANI WOODCOCK-SHARP
Landcare Research
P.O. Box 69
Lincoln, New Zealand
Present address: Pukekohe North School, Princes Street, Pukekohe, New
Zealand.
Abstract The traditional haro method was used to strip fibres
from the leaf blades of 11 Phormium varieties used by Maori for
traditional weaving and plaiting. The content, strength, and extension
characteristics of fibres differed markedly among the varieties. These fibre
characteristics also differed according to the part of the leaf blade from
which the fibre was extracted. Although strong correlations showed that
varieties with high fibre content also had the strongest and most extendable
fibre, some varieties deviated from those relationships. The fibre
characteristics of the varieties correspond to their traditional uses by Maori
and also to their history of use in the now defunct commercial phormium-fibre
industry.
Keywords Phormium tenax; P. cookianum;
harakeke; wharariki; New Zealand flax; ethnobotany; Maori weaving varieties;
fibre extraction; fibre content; fibre strength; fibre extension
B99042
Received 9 August 1999; accepted 4 February 2000
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1273K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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