Phormium tenax J.R.Forster & G.Forster, Xanthorrhoeaceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 8 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

English: New Zealand flax, New Zealand hemp, bush flax

Spanish: lino de Nueva Zelanda, lirio de espada

Habit:  herb

Description:  "This species is a perennial rhizomatous herb (to ca 2 m tall) native to New Zealand. The stems are short and stout. The leaves are strap-like, deep green, clump forming and fibrous. The flowers are red and orange, occurring in terminal sprays" (Csurhes and Edwards, 1998; p. 122).

"Plants to 5-6 m tall. Leaves bright orange toward base, stiff, erect, at least in lower part, 100-300 cm long, 5-12 cm wide, margins entire, apex usually splitting. Inflorescences 4-5 m long, peduncles dark brown, 2-3 cm in diameter, glabrous; tepals dull red, 2.5-5 cm long. Capsules dark brown with age, erect, 3-angled, 5-10 cm long, usually falcate, abruptly constricted at apex, not twisted. Seeds elliptic, 9-10 mm long, somewhat twisted" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 1350-1351).

"An evergreen plant, it grows to a height of 2 m with a spread of 2 m. ¶The stems are short and stout; the leaves are strap-like, deep green, clump forming [p. 788] and roughly fibrous; the flowers are red and orange, occuring in terminal sprays." (Encyclopaedia Botanica, p. 787)

Habitat/ecology:  "A native of NZ, it prefers light, well-drained soils in an open, sunny position, and is frost resistant but drought tender." (Encyclopaedia Botanica, p. 787)

"In Chile this species grows in the following environmental conditions:  Low altitude, interior valleys; coastal mountains, 500-2000 m; coastal areas, 0-500 m.  Dry, arid areas, with long drought periods of 6-10 months, precipitations of 100 mm-300 mm. are concentrated in winter.  Fully exposed to the sun, level areas or slopes facing north"  (Chileflora).

Propagation:  Propagates via discarded plants; seed, distributed by water, wind and possibly birds; rhizomes.

In cultivation (apparently): "Propagation is by ripened seed." (Encyclopaedia Botanica, p. 787)

Native range:  New Zealand, Norfolk Island.

Impacts and invaded habitats:  In Hawai‘i, the species forms dense thickets, principally in gullies in mesic areas below 300 m. (Smith, Alien Plants of Hawai‘i web site).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Norfolk Islands	Norfolk Island	native	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 11) "On grassy slopes and cliffs by the sea". Vouchers cited: R.D. Hoogland 11236 (CANB), R.M. Laing (CHR)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (pp. 493, 539, 556) Voucher cited: Danton I(5/349)1694. "En RC, forma matas imponentes por aqui y allá en el pueblo de San Juan Bautista.  Sus flores son visitadas por los picaflores (esencialmente Sephanoides galeritus)".
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced	Wester, Lyndon (1992) (p. 116)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1350-1351)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1350-1351)
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Raoul Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1977) (pp. 153-154) Slightly adventive.

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	introduced invasive cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 122) Naturalized in Victora.
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	native	Moore, L. B./ Edgar, E. (1970) (p. 52) "Abundant, especially in lowland swamps and intermittently flooded land".
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 69) Cultivated only
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Belov, Michail (2013)

Comments:  A very serious pest on St. Helena (Atlantic Ocean). Also reported to be present on Tristan de Cunha.

Control:  If you know of control methods for Phormium tenax, please let us know.