A sweet-scented grass that was highly valued by Māori. The leaves have a strong, pleasant, coumarin-like scent, similar to freshly mown hay. The plant forms loose clumps of bright green leaves, with delicate, airy flower heads. The leaves are narrow and soft, with a smooth texture. The scent is strongest when the leaves are dried. The plant grows in damp, open areas, often along stream banks and at forest margins. It is rare and culturally significant. The dried leaves were used as a perfume and placed among clothing to keep it smelling fresh. The leaves were also woven into garlands (hei) worn on the head. The scent was believed to have spiritual properties. Kāretu is threatened by competition from introduced grasses, which outcompete it in many areas. It is also threatened by habitat loss from land clearance. Conservation efforts are underway to protect remaining populations. To find kāretu is to search the damp forest margins and stream banks. Look for the loose clumps of bright green leaves. Crush a leaf and smell. That sweet scent is kāretu, the perfume grass of Māori. It is a taonga, a treasure of the Māori world, a plant of the damp places, a sweet scent in the forest. That is kāretu. Sweet-scented, rare, and treasured. It carries on. For now.