Ethnobotany is the interactions of culture and plants and how the two affect each other over time Cordyline australis also known as ti Kouka or Cabbage Tree is a plant endemic to the New Zealand islands. Often described as out of place among the native fauna of New Zealand it is an iconic symbol of the country. Its uses have changed over the centuries, evolving along with New Zealand as Maori and then Europeans settled New Zealand and the resulting cultural shift that accompanied. Ti kouka/Cordyline australis is a tree endemic to New Zealand. It can grow up from 10 to 20 metres tall. The tree has a single trunk from which the leaves will directly grow until its first flowering when it will then branch out with a great tuft of leaves
…show more content…
Maori brewed the leaves of ti kouka to treat diarrhoea and a decoction was made to treat dysentery (Goldie,1905). The leaf was also pounded into a paste or scrapings taken to be used as an ointment for skin injury’s such as cuts scrapes sores and cracks (Department of Conservation, 2010). Ti kouka seeds have been discovered to be a rich source of linoleic acid which can be a preventative to heart disease. While Maori consumed ti kouka berries, it is unsure whether they were aware of such health benefits (Ferguson, 2003). The leaf of ti kouka was used by early Maori for weaving, praised for its strength and resilience notably in sea water hence its use as an anchor ‘chains’ for boats and fishing line. Ti kouka was used by travellers in the form of a type of legging to protect them from spiky speargrasses that grew in the high country (Scheele, 2007). Ti kouka leaves were used in basket and mat weaving though not as frequently as harakeke due to its harakeke being easier to work with. At one-point ti kouka was looked at for being used on an industrial scale for the rope production, this was, however, never followed through on because of the huge transportation costs (Wardle, 2011). Ti kouka leaves were also used to make a type of sieve used to strain crushed hinau tree berries when they were used to bake a type of cake (Colenso, 1880). Also observed by Colenso was how leaves were gathered, then dried …show more content…
This is more of a cultural push than effectiveness as one study by Czernin & Phillips suggests. The strength of roots and their arrangement in the soil are important factors to consider when stream bank planting. Young ti kouka trees are not best suited for being planted on lower banks of fast flowing rivers due to hydrodynamic stresses. Ti kouka is best suited to being planted along the banks of small and slow-moving rivers due to its root structure of a large taproot and horizontal growing fibrous roots. A way to further reduce erosion is to plant harakeke in pairing with ti kouka, a coupling that commonly occurs naturally in New Zealand’s swamp and wetland environments (Czernin & Phillips, 2005). Along with bank stabilisation, ti kouka is good for bird attraction, it is bee friendly and provides shade (DairyNZ,
Maori brewed the leaves of ti kouka to treat diarrhoea and a decoction was made to treat dysentery (Goldie,1905). The leaf was also pounded into a paste or scrapings taken to be used as an ointment for skin injury’s such as cuts scrapes sores and cracks (Department of Conservation, 2010). Ti kouka seeds have been discovered to be a rich source of linoleic acid which can be a preventative to heart disease. While Maori consumed ti kouka berries, it is unsure whether they were aware of such health benefits (Ferguson, 2003). The leaf of ti kouka was used by early Maori for weaving, praised for its strength and resilience notably in sea water hence its use as an anchor ‘chains’ for boats and fishing line. Ti kouka was used by travellers in the form of a type of legging to protect them from spiky speargrasses that grew in the high country (Scheele, 2007). Ti kouka leaves were used in basket and mat weaving though not as frequently as harakeke due to its harakeke being easier to work with. At one-point ti kouka was looked at for being used on an industrial scale for the rope production, this was, however, never followed through on because of the huge transportation costs (Wardle, 2011). Ti kouka leaves were also used to make a type of sieve used to strain crushed hinau tree berries when they were used to bake a type of cake (Colenso, 1880). Also observed by Colenso was how leaves were gathered, then dried …show more content…
This is more of a cultural push than effectiveness as one study by Czernin & Phillips suggests. The strength of roots and their arrangement in the soil are important factors to consider when stream bank planting. Young ti kouka trees are not best suited for being planted on lower banks of fast flowing rivers due to hydrodynamic stresses. Ti kouka is best suited to being planted along the banks of small and slow-moving rivers due to its root structure of a large taproot and horizontal growing fibrous roots. A way to further reduce erosion is to plant harakeke in pairing with ti kouka, a coupling that commonly occurs naturally in New Zealand’s swamp and wetland environments (Czernin & Phillips, 2005). Along with bank stabilisation, ti kouka is good for bird attraction, it is bee friendly and provides shade (DairyNZ,