Atarau
| Cultivar No |  |
12 |
|---|---|---|
| Source | |
Pipiriki, Whanganui River. |
| Description | |
A handsome bush, quite a contrast with a distinctive deep blue tone about its tall bright bronzy leaves. Straight, strong, pointed leaf with red tonings inside the old blades. Very blue bloom on the back of the blades. Very few flower heads. |
| Uses | |
Strips well and fairly easily, but not really a muka variety. When Rene experimented with this harakeke, the scrape turned a lovely yellow-gold the same day. When boiled for one minute, strips dry to deep green/fawn shadings. Fawn-brown when unboiled. |
| Muka extraction |  |
Only a portion (approx. one third) of muka extracts. Rest of fibre remains in leaf. Para sticks to fibre. |
| Raranga - unboiled | |
Butt ends of whenu are thick and tips are thin. When softening whenu, sticky juice is released. Edges fray, whenu easily split lengthwise. Whenu turn golden colour when still fresh. |
Information sources:
| Rene Orchiston |
Katarina Tawiri |
 Rob Smissen |
 Sue Scheele |