NOTE - THIS PROTO-PAGE IS STILL IN THE EARLY STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION!

These words all incorporate the Proto-Polynesian word *fara, inherited by Mäori as both hara (as in harareke) and whara. (The same root word was the basis for a later form, *falafala, also used in plant names and discussed on a separate page.) Both these words are derived ultimately from the Proto-Austronesia word *pandan "pandanus".

By itself, whara in Mäori refers to all plants having "ensiform" (sword-shaped) sheathing leaves, reminiscent of the tropical Pandanus, especially the Astelias and flaxes (Phormium spp.), along with the Astelia-like epiphyte Collospermum hastatum. This arrangement is chartacteristic of the flaxes and Astelias. In the specific names of different species of Astelia, the word root is doubled (reduplicated), which may be a development that took place in Eastern Polynesia before the settlement of Aotearoa. These names and the plants they refer to are illustrated on a separate page, but some photographs of Astelia species also appear on this one as the name for the group directly reflects its Proto-Austronesian source.

Harakeke, whararahi, & wharariki,
Location in the Language Garden
The kauri in Traditional Maori Poetry and Proverbs

Harakeke, whararahi and wharariki

There are two species of Phormium. The larger, Phormium tenax (the plant most often referred to as "New Zealand flax") has the Mäori names harakeke and also whararahi (literally, "large whara" - according to Williams, a name applied to a particular variety "not of the finest quality"). In Northland the plant is commonly called körari, the word used only for the flowering stalk elsewhere. This species is also found natively on Norfolk Island. The wharariki ("small whara), Phormium cookianum, is unique to Aotearoa. Both species have long been cultivated, and the cultivars vary widely in size and colour.

A LOT MORE TO COME! 

 

Back to: Harakeke etc.
Next sections:
Location in the Language Garden
These Plant Names in Traditional Maori Poetry and Proverbs

 

Location in the Language Garden

[There is a representative collection of different plants whose names are derived from *fara in Area NE-2, and more (including large clumps of several varieties of Phormium tenax) scattered over the 5 acres!]

 

Back to:
Harakeke, whararahi, & wharariki
Location in the Language Garden
Next section:
These Plant Names in Traditional Maori Poetry and Proverbs