The Untold Story of European Botanical Discoveries in Tahiti

In 1769, Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander, two European botanists, embarked on a groundbreaking journey with Captain James Cook to the Pacific. Their mission was to explore the island of Tahiti and document the diverse plant life they encountered.

Upon arrival, they faced the daunting task of describing and naming hundreds of unknown plant species. To overcome this challenge, they turned to the invaluable knowledge of the indigenous Polynesian and Māori people.

Dr. Edwin Rose, a researcher at Cambridge University, delved into the previously overlooked field notebooks of Solander and Banks. His analysis revealed that the botanists relied heavily on indigenous expertise and names to identify and describe approximately 1,400 plant species.

For instance, Solander noted that children enjoyed sucking the sweet juice from the elongated bud of a white flowering vine, later identified as Operculina turpethum. This observation influenced his description of the plant's physical features and even its Latin name, Convolvulus alatus, which means "furnished with wings."

Furthermore, Banks and Solander meticulously recorded the indigenous names for each plant, creating the first written records of these names. These names served as a crucial reference point for their research, providing additional support for the newly devised Latin binomials.

The indigenous names also ensured that future European botanists could easily identify the plants and served as a testament to the collaboration between Banks, Solander, and the indigenous communities.

Dr. Rose's research sheds new light on the significant role played by indigenous knowledge in the scientific discoveries of Banks and Solander. It highlights the importance of collaboration and the value of indigenous expertise in understanding the natural world.