One of New Zealand's most important and iconic plants. A flax that is a treasure. The leaves are long, sword-like, green, reaching two metres in length. They are extremely strong and fibrous, with a tough, leathery texture. The leaf margins and midrib are often edged with orange or red, a distinctive feature of the species. A plant that is beautiful and useful. The plant produces tall, branched flower spikes that can reach up to 4 metres in height. The flowers are red or yellow, tubular, and full of nectar. They appear in summer and are attractive to tūī, bellbirds, and other native birds, which feed on the nectar. The flowers are followed by long, curved seed pods containing shiny, black seeds. Harakeke was used extensively by Māori for weaving, rope-making, fishing nets, and medicinal purposes. The leaves were soaked to soften them, then woven into baskets (kete), mats (whāriki), and clothing. The fibres were used for rope (taura) and fishing nets (kupenga). The nectar was collected as a sweet drink. The roots and gum were used medicinally. A plant that fed, clothed, and healed. The plant is a taonga (treasure) of the Māori world, central to Māori culture and identity. It is also an important plant for native birds, providing food and shelter. To find harakeke is to walk the wetlands and coastal cliffs of New Zealand. The wetland is damp. The harakeke grows, sword-like leaves edged with red, flower spikes tall against the sky. The tūī feed on the nectar. The weaver strips the leaves. The plant does not know it is a taonga. It does not know it is central to a culture. It just wants to grow. That is what flax does.