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Plants used.
In plaiting it is in almost all cases the leaves of the plants that are used, and the plants selected are therefore those with long leaves to provide suitable wefts. In one case the stem is used, and in another the bark. For the description of the parts of the plants used we have quoted freely from Cheeseman's Manual of the New Zealand Flora.
Phormium tenax (New Zealand Flax; Harakeke).—Flax forms the chief material used in all forms of plaiting and weaving. It grows abundantly throughout both Islands, especially in lowland swamps and alluvial ground. Up the Whanganui River it was introduced and cultivated, so that each village had its pa harakeke, or flax-garden. Even in villages close to flax swamps, flax was grown close to the houses for immediate use. The Maori recognize several varieties with different quality of leaf and different strength of fibre. The famous katiraukawa, whose fibre was so sought after for weaving, is too thick and strong in the leaf for baskets and mats. Whilst it can be so used, other varieties with less fibre and a softer blade are preferred.
The leaves grow from 3 ft. to 9 ft. long or more, and the blades are 2 in. to 5 in. wide, keeled, and the margins and midrib bordered with a red or orange line. The upper or inner surface (aroaro) is dark green, and the lower or outer (tuara) of a paler sea-green colour. When dry the two surfaces maintain their difference in colour, the upper being brighter and having a smoother appearance. At a point somewhere about midway from the tip the two inner surfaces of the two halves of the blade begin to coalesce at the midrib, and this coalescence gradually increases until one-half of the leaf is joined together and the remainder in close opposition. The Maoris called the part above the diagonal line of coalescence the kauru, or leaf, and the part below they called the putake, or butt. For ease of description, later on we shall refer to the line of coalescence of the two half-blades as the “butt-junction.”
Phormium Cookianum (Wharariki).—This species is much smaller than P. tenax. It contains little fibre, and is softer and is less rigid. The leaves are 2 ft. to 5 ft. long, 1 in. to 2 ½ in. broad, pale green, seldom glaucous, and the margins and midrib seldom bordered with a coloured line. It grows throughout the North Island, and was the only original species growing up the Whanganui, where it grew plantifully about the cliffs and steep slopes of the river. On account of its softness and ease of manipulation it was considered by the Whanganui people to be the best material for plaiting purposes, though the fibre was useless for weaving. Some tribes, such as the Nga-Rauru, of south Taranaki, where Phormium tenax is abundant, have imported it to their district, where it is cultivated for plaiting baskets, mats, and burden-carriers.
Freycinetia Banksii (Kiekie).—The Maori was acquainted with Freycinetia in the Pacific islands, where those branches of the Polynesians who drop the k sound in their speech call it ieie. Both there and here the fine roots are used in twined weaving; but with the Maori the leaves are largely used for the best class of mats, baskets, and belts. The kiekie grows abundantly throughout the North Island and parts of the South, where it climbs up forest-trees or scrambles over rock and prostrate tree-trunks. The leaves are numerous towards the tips of the branches. They are long and narrow (1 ½ ft. to 3 ft. long, ½ in. to 1 in. broad), sharply pointed, with a broad sheath at the base, concave, tough, leathery, and with the margins and midrib serrated with sharp spines. The leaves are used in making rough rain-cloaks.
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Scirpus frondosus (Pingao).—The pingao grows abundantly on the sand-dunes near the coast throughout both Islands. It grows 2 ft. to 3 ft. high, and is of a yellow-green colour. The leaves are very numerous, often curved, very tough and leathery, channelled above, keeled below, gradually narrowed into long points, and expanded at the base into broad membranous sheaths. The margins and midrib are finely toothed. When dry the leaves have a yellow-orange colour, and are used in the colour-designs in fine mats, baskets, and belts. Inland tribes imported the prepared material from their coastal friends. The pingao was also used in the lattice-work panels of houses to give colour to the tukutuku patterns.
Scirpus lacustris (Paopao, or Kutakuta).—The paopao grows in the margins of lakes and swamps or ponds. The stems are 2 ft. to 6 ft. high, sometimes almost as thick as the finger, cylindrical, spongy, leafless, and sea-green in colour. The stems are used in the plaiting of floor-mats.
Cordyline australis (Cabbage-tree; Ti-kouka, or Whanake).—The ti-kouka is abundant throughout both Islands, and reaches a height of from 15 ft. to 40 ft. The leaves form a dense round head at the top of the stems or branches. They are from 1 ½ ft. to 3 ft. long, 1 ½ in. to 2 ½ in. broad, flat, firm, sea-green, sword-shaped, sharp-tipped, slightly contracted just above the broad sheathing base, and have an indistinct midrib. The fibre in the leaf is strong and durable. The whole leaf is plaited into ropes and baskets, and their wefts are used for a neat basket, which is usually dyed black. Sandals were also made from the full leaf.
Cordyline indivisa (Toi).—The toi, the finest species of the Cordylines, grows in mountain districts in both Islands. The stem is stout, erect, rarely branched, and grows from 5 ft. to 25 ft. in height. The leaves are very numerous, spreading all round and forming a massive head. They are 2 ft. to 6 ft. long, 4 in. to 6 in. broad at the middle, broadly sword-shaped, tapering to a sharp point at the tip, usually contracted below and then expanded at the sheathing base. They are thick, tough, leathery, flat, greenish with faint purplish or reddish tint above and sea-green beneath. The midrib is very thick and prominent below but gradually decreases upwards. The lateral veins are very numerous and strong. The midrib, on account of its red or yellowish-red colour, is used sometimes in baskets. The fibre of the toi is very strong. Whilst its most common use is in the manufacture of a fine type of rain-cloak, it may on occasion be used in plaiting.
The other species of Cordyline—C. terminalis (ti-pore), C. Banksii (ti-ngahere), and C. pumilio (ti-rauriki)—probably had their leaves used on occasion for the same purposes as C. australis.
Astelia Cunninghamii (Wharawhara, Kowharawhara).—This species is abundant throughout the woods of the North Island and part of the South. It is densely tufted, and grows on the ground or is epiphytic on trees. The leaves are numerous, 2 ft. to 5 ft. long, ½ in. to 1 in. broad at the middle, drawn out to a point, contracted below and widening out at the sheathing base. They are rigid, thick, leathery, and with silky midrib and margins, the latter being recurved. The leaves were used by sojourners in the forest for temporary baskets for food, or even as mats to cover the food whilst cooking in the umu, or oven.
Astelia Banksii (Wharawhara, Kowharawhara, Puwharawhara).—This species has a longer and broader leaf than Astelia Cunninghamii, 2 ft. to 6 ft. long and ½ in. to 1 ½ in. broad. It has not such a wide distribution, being limited to the North Island as far south as Hawke's Bay and Taranaki, and
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growing usually near the coast. The leaves are used for the same purpose as those of the previous species; and, though this one does not come within the region of the Whanganui people, owing to similar Maori names being used it is included here for completeness. There is no doubt that other species of Astelia would be used for temporary purposes where more suitable material was lacking.
Rhopalostylis sapida (New Zealand Palm; Nikau).—The nikau is abundant throughout the North Island forests, and is found in parts of the South Island. The stem grows from 10 ft. to 25 ft. high. The leaves grow in a terminal crown, are pinnately divided, and are from 4 ft. to 8 ft. long. The midrib is stout and the leaflets very numerous, 2 ft. to 3 ft. long or more, and 1 in. to 2 in. broad. The most primitive kind of basket was made from the leaf, similar to those made in the Pacific from the leaf of the coconut-palm.
Hierochloe redolens (Karetu).—The karetu is an erect sweet-scented grass, which grew abundantly in moist places throughout both Islands, but has become scarce in many parts owing to cattle and stock. The leaves are numerous, from 1 ½ ft. to about 3 ft. in length, and ¼ in. to ½ in. in breadth. They are flat, smooth, deeply striate, and a bright shining green. The leaves were used in making belts.
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Carex lucida and Carex comans (Maurea).—These perennial herbs are found in both Islands, and are both called maurea by the Maori. C. lucida has numerous leaves, spreading or drooping at the tips, narrow (1/15 in. to ⅛ in. broad), keeled, and with margins and keel slightly rough. The length of leaf is up to 2 ft. C. comans has shorter and narrower leaves, 18 in. long and ⅓0 in. to 1/15 in. broad. They are flat and concave in front, slightly rounded at the back, grooved and striate, with slightly rough edges. Maurea leaves when dry have a reddish-yellow colour, and are used in women's belts.
Hoheria populnea (Ribbonwood, or Lacebark; Houhi, Whauwhi, Houhere).—The houhi is a tree 10 ft. to 30 ft. high, growing in both Islands. The inner bark splits readily into strips, which are used in plaiting baskets, bands, kilts, &c.