Harvesting the lace from lacebark
2 June 2007Click here to visit an upgraded version of this blog post on my new website at alibrown.nz.
Have you ever wondered where the lacebark tree — a tree with bark that doesn’t look lacey at all — got its name? The answer lies in the layer that is directly underneath the bark, which is the part of the tree that carries the sap. This inner layer of bark in a lacebark tree, or hoheria, and also in the ribbonwood, or manatu, is made up of layers of very thin white strips with many tiny holes that give it a lace-like appearance. These beautiful strips have traditionally been used by Māori for weaving small fine decorative baskets as well as a material for cloaks.
I was recently shown how to harvest the bark on a fallen tree. I’m told bark can also be harvested on a living tree. Ideally, only a small portion of the circumference of the tree is stripped — maybe something like a fifth or a sixth of the circumference — on the north side of the tree on a hot fine day in summer. Apparently, the tree will tolerate this degree of stripping, and can be harvested again in a couple of years’ time.
To get the bark off the trunk, two small vertical cuts are made in the bark and a knife pushed between the core wood and lace bark to start easing it away from the wood. The bark is then pulled up carefully from the tree trunk in a long strip. These strips of bark and inner bark are soaked in water for a few days, which is changed each day, until the inner lace bark starts peeling away from the outer bark and separating out into strips. On the fallen tree the bark can be stripped right down to the core wood although on a living tree the bark is only stripped partially down to the core wood.
When the lace bark dries it is quite stiff but it will soften again when dampened. It can then be formed into the shape you want, and if it is held in that shape while it dries, it will retain the shape. I’ve played around with it and love the way it can be shaped into soft lacy curls.
Can anyone add any further wisdom on harvesting the bark of lacebark or ribbonwood? Is there something I haven’t mentioned? I’ve searched in books and looked on the internet, but can’t find anyone who has written on this topic, and my own knowledge and experience on the topic is very limited.
© Alison Marion Brown 2007.
November 7th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
Hi could you please tell me how you make the flax roses thankyou
April 16th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I am very intrested to know where do you found the lacebark? what part of the north island can you find the lacebark.Do you have workshops
April 16th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Hi Janie
There are several different species of Lacebarks and Ribbonwoods which grow in different parts of the country. Te Ara: The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand has information about which trees grow in which locations. Check for trees growing in your own or friend’s gardens or contact your local or regional council or local Māori representatives, or iwi, for permission to gather from trees in public places.
Yes, I do hold workshops in Christchurch and you can check out the dates for these on my Workshops page.
May 14th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
I have recently returned from a world cruise and visited NZ. I’m interested to know if you could send information and pictures regarding how the flax skirts worn by the Maori people, which I saw when a choir came on board the ship to entertain us, were made as I’m putting together memories of my cruise which I shall be sharing with children at my granddaughters school from 4 -11 years.
We will be returning to NZ in the not too distant future and I look forward to hearing from you.
kind regards,
Esther Holmes (mrs)
May 19th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Hi Esther
Sounds like you enjoyed your trip!
The traditional skirts you saw on the choir are made from dried strips of the leaf of the flax plant which are attached to a plaited waistband.
The geometric patterns you will have seen on the skirts are made by the outer green fleshy part of the leaf being scraped off in sections to expose the inner fibre. The strips are then put briefly into a dye where the exposed fibre takes up the dye but the green part doesn’t. The strips are then dried and as they dry they curl up into cylinders which are plaited onto the waistband.
Skirts made in earlier times were made on a backing of woven fibre. You can see a photo of this on the History page of this web site.
August 12th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Kia ora mete,As part of my research I am studing Lacebark.Is there any chance of a workshop for the
Waikato area, when and where please. Naku noa Olive.
August 16th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Kia ora Olive
Your research on lacebark sounds interesting. I’d love to hear more about it.
Unfortunately, I don’t have time at present to travel far out of Christchurch to tutor as all my spare time is taken up with completing the Flax Flowers booklet and have also just started a new job. Maybe Toi Māori Aotearoa will know of someone who can assist you.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:48 am
I’m doing a reasearch at school and i was hoping i could find out some good information and facts about the lacebark tree ..
November 24th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Do you know any facts or anything about the ribbonwood tree
November 24th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Hi Ainhoa and Mikayla
The Landcare website has some good information on the lacebark and ribbonwood trees. I hope it has what you’re looking for.
Ali
December 19th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
All your mahi is so beautiful I enjoy it all
April 14th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
I have many “lace bark” & ribbonwood trees growing on my property. I planted about 12 years ago - they are easy to grow here in South Canterbury in fact like weeds with many seedlings! I have stripped some fallen branches and will now soak in water as advised. I would love some instruction to make simple kete or hats with the strips if anyone has the knowledge and wish to share it?? the strips of inner bark are quite delicate and beautiful. Robyn
April 20th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Hi Robyn
Lacebark is wonderfully delicate isn’t it? I suggest you have look at the book Maori Weaving by Erenora Puketapu-Hetet, which I mention on the Reviews page, for instructions on how to make a simple kete with your lacebark. Also, what about making a kete using the method of twining instead of weaving, the same way fibre or muka kete are made. In that way, the strips wouldn’t be crossing over each other and so the lacy quality would be more evident.
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
thank you Ali - have just found your reply - will try for book from library - maybe you will offer a workshop on this? blessings Robyn.
June 8th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
Hi can you tell me how to dye lacebark Thanks Roberta
August 31st, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Hi Roberta
Sorry for my delayed reply. I haven’t dyed lacebark but I think you would dye it in the same way as flax. As the lacbark is a much lighter colour, it won’t take as long and I think you could also use a cold-water dye.
September 19th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
We have many very large flax plants growing on our property is there any one who I can contact who would want to harvest them. I grew up in a place where there was a twine factory and they used the flax for that. I guess that is not done today, but seeing the lovely bags and flowers made from the flax is there a home industry who would want it?
Regards.
December 20th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Sr Colette lives in Dunedin and if anyone would like to take advantage of her kind offer, please contact me and I’ll put you in touch.
May 25th, 2011 at 12:50 am
Hi Ali,
I’m in Dunedin and am interested in harvesting flax and dead flax flower stalks for a project. This is late but if Sr Colette is still offering flax I’d be very keen.
Thanks for this website, by the way I found it searching for a way to process the lace bark!!
May 27th, 2011 at 10:30 am
Hello Ian
I’ve just tried to send an email to Sr Colette to pass on your contact email but the email was returned to me. Maybe if Sr Colette sees this she can contact me again.
July 1st, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Hi Robyn wiil you be able to send me some seeds from your lace bark and ribbinwood trees if you can thank you
Janie