DSC_4795 'Coastal' Mountain flax, or wharariki (Phormium cookianum subsp. hookeri) typical yellow and green flowers against leaves. Found throughout New Zealand - local in Northland - and often growing inland on cliff faces and exposed rock ledges in the North Island, while, becoming more of a 'coastal flax' throughout the South Island, and south of about Paekakariki. Ruapehu *
DSC_4805 Swamp flax, or harakeke (Phormium tenax) atypical orange flowers against leaves. It is possible that these flowers reflect a degree of natural hybridisation with the mountain flax (Phormium cookianum), which flowers nearby. Certainly the common flax's typically red flowers can be much 'fatter' and less strongly curved. Ruapehu *
DSC_4805 Swamp flax, or harakeke (Phormium tenax) typical red flowers against leaves. Ruapehu *
