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Story: Flax and flax working

Feeding on flax flowers

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Feeding on flax flowers

A tūī feeds on the red flowers of Phormium tenax, the more common of the two species of New Zealand flax. In spring, tūī and bellbirds are attracted to the flower’s sweet nectar. While feeding, the birds also carry pollen from plant to plant, which results in the production of seed in long pods.

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Reference: 10059681

by Damien Toman

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Flax and flax working – New Zealand flax, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10374/feeding-on-flax-flowers (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 1 March 2009.