Taramea on Swampy Summit

A jog up to Swampy Summit in the mist this morning. We came across many of these prickly plants: Taramea (Aciphylla aurea) or Golden Speargrass. Apparently in the past, the leaves were gathered by Māori, plaited and heated and a resin was extracted and a fragrant oil was made and used for trading. I also found them mentioned on an American plant selling website, describing them as wild boar, Komodo dragon and grizzly bear resistant...

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