Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Flax plant of Norfolk Island (Phormium tanax), 1790s

Flax plant of Norfolk Island (Phormium tanax), 1790s

Dixson Library, State Library of NSW; Bequest of Sir William Dixson, 1952; DL PXX 1, Series 01, f. 21

Watercolour

Flax is one of the oldest fibre crops in the world. Flax fibres are used to make linen.
The Norfolk Island Flax plant is one of two species in the Phormium genus.
The specific name of the Norfolk Island flax is Phormium tenax from the Ancient Greek name Phormium, meaning basket and Latin name tenax, meaning strong.
The Norfolk Island flax has sword shaped leaves that grow up to three metres long.
Norfolk Island flax plants grow mainly in swamp areas.
Norfolk Island flax is used to make flax fibre and is distributed around the world.