What is "new zealand flax"

Flax \Flax\ (fl[a^]ks), n. [AS. fleax; akin to D. vlas, OHG. flahs, G. flachs, and prob. to flechten to braid, plait,m twist, L. plectere to weave, plicare to fold, Gr. ? to weave, plait. See Ply.]

1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Linum, esp. the L. usitatissimum, which has a single, slender stalk, about a foot and a half high, with blue flowers. The fiber of the bark is used for making thread and cloth, called linen, cambric, lawn, lace, etc. Linseed oil is expressed from the seed.

2. The skin or fibrous part of the flax plant, when broken and cleaned by hatcheling or combing. Earth flax (Min.), amianthus. Flax brake, a machine for removing the woody portion of flax from the fibrous. Flax comb, a hatchel, hackle, or heckle. Flax cotton, the fiber of flax, reduced by steeping in bicarbonate of soda and acidulated liquids, and prepared for bleaching and spinning like cotton. --Knight. Flax dresser, one who breaks and swingles flax, or prepares it for the spinner. Flax mill, a mill or factory where flax is spun or linen manufactured. Flax puller, a machine for pulling flax plants in the field. Flax wench.

   1. A woman who spins flax. [Obs.]

   2. A prostitute. [Obs.]
      --Shak.

      Mountain flax (Min.), amianthus.

      New Zealand flax (Bot.) See Flax-plant.

New Zealand \New` Zea"land\ A group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. New Zealand flax.

1. (Bot.) A tall, liliaceous herb ( Phormium tenax), having very long, sword-shaped, distichous leaves which furnish a fine, strong fiber very valuable for cordage and the like.

2. The fiber itself.

   New Zealand tea (Bot.), a myrtaceous shrub ( Leptospermum scoparium) of New Zealand and Australia, the leaves of which are used as a substitute for tea.