ddRADseq reveals the relationships of harakeke and wharariki (Phormium species, Asphodelaceae) and selected weaving cultivars in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This article focuses on the genetic relationships and provenance of harakeke (Phormium tenax) and wharariki (Phormium cookianum), two culturally significant New Zealand plants used by Māori for weaving. Using double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq), the study distinguishes the two species genetically despite evidence of hybridization and identifies genetic structuring within harakeke, with most cultivars clustering with wild North Island populations. The research suggests that harakeke populations on several offshore islands—including Norfolk Island, the Kermadec Archipelago (Raoul Island), Rēkohu (Chatham Islands), and subantarctic islands—are likely introduced by Māori or early European settlers rather than indigenous. Additionally, the study confirms hybridization between harakeke and wharariki in both wild and cultivated plants and supports the clonal or closely related nature of several harakeke cultivar groups historically selected for specific weaving purposes.