The following alphabetical list of Maori names of plants has been assembled with a very few amendments from the Sixth (1957) Edition of Williams's Dictionary of the Maori Language, in the preparation of which the considerable task of checking the scientific names was undertaken by Mr. A. Morris Jones. As there mentioned (Preface, p. vi), many Maori names of such things as birds, trees and insects remain defined in general terms only. It is often doubtful also which names are limited to single species, and some were used rather in a generic or subgeneric sense, for example tataramoa for several species of Rubus.

Names of algae, fungi, lichens and mosses are not included here and those given to crop plants and weeds introduced by European settlers are also excluded. Plants cultivated in pre-European times, like taro, gourd and sweet potato, are included, but only as to the terms most generally applied to them. Plant species of special importance to the Maori received a number of different names, distinguishing recognised races or strains, as in Phormium, or important parts of the plant or stages of growth, as in Pteridium; flowers and fruit were often given epithets of their own, as in Freycinetia. These names are included except in some cases where the Dictionary leaves the species undetermined, but plant products, such as timber or gum, are omitted. H. W. Williams, in the Preface to the Fifth Edition of the Dictionary, pointed out that many names in Phormium are purely fanciful, or of limited local use. Names consisting of several words, either with or without hyphens, are accepted as they appear in the Dictionary, although some seem to be descriptive phrases rather than true names.