Gardenia taitensis

Gardenia taitensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Gardenia
Species: G. taitensis
Binomial name
Gardenia taitensis
DC.[1]

Gardenia taitensis[2] (also called Tahitian Gardenia or Tiaré Flower) is a species of plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is an evergreen tropical shrub that grows to 4 m tall, it has glossy dark green leaves (5–16 cm long) that are oppositely arranged along the stem. The flower is creamy white, pinwheel-shaped with 5 to 9 lobes (each lobe 2–4 cm long) and very fragrant. Native to the highland shores of the South Pacific, it has the distinction of being one of the few cultivated plants native to Polynesia. It is the national flower of French Polynesia and the Cook 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 by Jules Dumont d'Urville in 1824. Hence the scientific name of Gardenia taitensis, and the English name of Tahitian Gardenia or Tiaré Flower. It was first collected in Tahiti, by the Forsters on Captain Cook's first Pacific voyage (1768–1771), although it was misidentified as Gardenia florida.[3]

The plant originates from Melanesia and Western Polynesia. It is an aboriginal introduction to the Cook Islands and French Polynesia and possibly Hawaii.[4]

Synonyms

Indigenous names

Common uses

The flower is used to make Monoi Tiaré Tahiti, a perfume-oil made by infusing the blossoms in coconut oil.

Gallery

References

  1. International Organization for Plant Information (IOPI). "Plant Name Search Results" (HTML). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  2. The Tiaré Flower: "Emblem of TAHITI and pillar of Polynesian traditions, its Latin name is "Gardenia Tahitensis" but that magnificent little flowers with snow-white petals arranged in the form of a star is more popularly known as Tiaré Tahiti or Tiaré Mahoi (pronounced tee-a-ray)."
  3. Cook Islands Biodiversity & Natural Heritage Database : Gardenia taitensis - Tahitian Gardenia
  4. Gardenia taitensis - National Tropical Garden Plant Database
  5. Polynesian herbal medicine By W Arthur Whistler (1992) p. 52, 69, 150 Google Books
  6. The History of Monoi Tiare Tahiti at Monoi.com
  7. Ormonde Jayne - Tiare Perfume Collection by Linda Pilkington
  8. Chantecaille Tiare Perfume at chantecaille.com

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gardenia taitensis.