Phormium cookianum – see below), also called mountain flax, or wharariki in Māori, is a perennial plant that is endemic to New Zealand.

Mountain flax is also called whararipi, whatariki, mangaeka, kōrari tuauru (Williams 1971), wauraki (Bell 1890 sic.

[10] However, previously, in 1848, Auguste François Le Jolis had described the species under the name P. cookianum,[10][13] and for many years this name was thought to have priority over Hooker's name P. colensoi.

Wharariki is a taonga (sacred, treasure) species to Māori and numerous traditional cultivars have been used for various purposes.

Refer to Ngā Tipu Whakaoranga [Māōri Plant Use Database] and the citations within[6] and Te Kohinga Harakeke o Aotearoa – National New Zealand Flax Collection.