.LynEve

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Young Ti Kouka, New Zealand Cabbage Trees, and a flax plant, growing wild.
Cabbage Trees grow 12 to 20 metres, one of the largest tree lilies in the world and in the past they had many uses. The bark is very fire resistant and was used by early settlors to make chimneys for their dwellings. Maori used all parts - the roots, stem and leaves are all edible and the leaves were woven into baskets, rope, footware etc. It also has many medicinal uses. Plantings were used to mark trails and boundaries, cemeteries and births as they are very long lived, up to 150 years.
Sweet scented white blossoms appear in the Spring - if very profusely it will be a dry summer. Blue berries follow which are enjoyed by kereru (native wood pigeon). Some dried out flower heads can just be seen in this photo which was taken in mid summer.
They were named by Captain Cook's crew after they watched Maori split a spike of unopened leaves and boil and eat the cabbage- like heart which is inside.
Thanks for looking. Comments very welcome, and appreciated.