Domestication of the New Zealand flora—an alternative view

Abstract

We present some outcomes of attempts made to develop the economic uses of New Zealand plant species by their domestication, particularly with reference to a paper by Haase (1990) on the potential plant genetic resources of the New Zealand flora. Particular attention is given to the development of New Zealand plants as ornamentals to illustrate that considerable progress has been made in developing the economic use of many New Zealand plants for garden and landscape use. Haase's (1990) opinion that the small number of cultivated plants derived from the native flora is due to the short period of human occupation of New Zealand is contradicted by the history of the development of introduced plants that has accompanied the conversion of large areas of indigenous vegetation to pastoral, arable, and forestry systems. Biogeographical factors, particularly the absence of an indigenous land mammal fauna and a mild oceanic climate, are suggested as the reasons why the New Zealand flora has not provided significant esculent plants. Reference is made to the introduction of plants to Aotearoa-New Zealand by Maori and what remains of these introductions. Considerable scope remains for the exploration of New Zealand plants focuses other than food. However, market factors will remain as major determinants for any future development of economic products from New Zealand plants.

Keywords:

• New Zealand
• indigenous flora
• biogeography
• economic uses
• plant domestication
• ornamental plants
• esculent plants
• plant selection and breeding
• Maori
• traditional uses
• Phormium
• Solanum
• Cordyline
• Broussonetia