- Gardenia taitensis
Taxobox
image_width = 250px
status =
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Gentianales
familia =Rubiaceae
genus = "Gardenia "
species = "G. taitensis"
binomial = "Gardenia taitensis"
binomial_authority = J.Hilyard
synonyms ="Gardenia taitensis" (also called Tiare Māori or Tahitian Gardenia) is a species of
plant in theRubiaceae family. It is the national flower ofFrench Polynesia & theCook Islands . The name Tahitian Gardenia is somewhat a misnomer because it is neither native nor naturalised in Tahiti. The first acceptable scientific name for the plant was based on Tahitian specimens collected byDumont d'Urville in 1824. Hence the scientific name of "Gardenia taitensis", and the English name of Tahitian Gardenia. It is interesting to note that it was also first collected in Tahiti, by the Forsters onCaptain Cook 's first Pacific voyage (1768-1771), although it was mis-identified as "Gardenia florida".Native to the highland shores of the
South Pacific , it has the distinction of being one of the few cultivated plants native toPolynesia . The intoxicating sweet fragrant blossoms are creamy white works of art. Large flowers 3" in diameter, large glossy oval leaves.Common names
*Tiare Mā'ohi / Tiare Tahiti (
Tahitian )
*Tiare Māori / Tiale Māoli (Rarotongan )
*Pua Samoa / Pua fiti (Samoan )
*Siale Tonga (Tongan )
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