New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts
Varietal differences and environmental effects on leaves of Phormium
harvested for traditional Maori weaving
Warwick Harris*
Suzanne M. Scheele
Guy J. Forrester
Duane A. Peltzer
Landcare Research
P.O. Box 69
Lincoln 8152, New Zealand
* Present address: Lincoln Botanical, 16 Aylmers Valley Road,
Akaroa 8161, New Zealand. harrisw@landcareresearch.co.nz
Abstract Leaves from 12 varieties of Phormium
grown at 10 sites in New Zealand were harvested by a standardised
procedure used by Maori when gathering material for the preparation of
extracted fibre (muka) for weaving and strips for plaiting (raranga)
and making swinging skirts (piupiu). The length, width, thickness, and
blade and butt weights of the harvested leaves were measured.
Significant differences in leaf traits between varieties were shown for
all 19 characters derived from these measurements. Cluster and
principal components analysis defined five groups of varieties with the
low stature variety Oue clearly distinct from all other varieties.
Application of a genotype × environment model to six of the
varieties indicated that they responded differently in changes of their
leaf characters in response to the environments of the 10 sites. For
the most part this arose from varietal differences in the relative
responses of leaf characters to the gradient of improved growth
conditions across sites, Paoa having a response distinctly different
from the other varieties. Examination of allometric relationships
between leaf dimensions showed that variation of leaf size caused by
growth conditions at the sites influenced leaf shape and blade- and
butt-weight partitioning ratios. Patterns of variation of the leaf
characters are related to assessments made by weavers when choosing
leaves for different weaving and plaiting uses and to the taxonomic
classification of Phormium varieties.
Keywords leaf dimensions; leaf weights; weaving; Phormium;
New Zealand flax; harakeke; Maori varieties; site × variety
interaction; allometry
B05015; Received 21 April 2005; accepted 27 July 2005; Online
publication date 16 September 2005
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2005, Vol. 43: 791–816
0028–825X/05/4304–0791 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005
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