Gardenia taitensis

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Gardenia taitensis, 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 and has glossy dark green leaves (5-16 cm long) that are oppositely arranged along the stem. The flower is creamy white and pinwheel-shaped with 5-9 lobes (each lobe 2-4 cm long) and 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.

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

Video Gardenia taitensis

Synonyms

Gardenia weissichii
Gardenia tahitensis
Randia tahitensis

Maps Gardenia taitensis

Indigenous names

Tiare m?'ohi, Tiaré tahiti (French Polynesia)
Tiare m?ori, Tialé m?oli (Cook Islands)
Pua Samoa, Pua fiti (Samoa)
Siale Tonga (Tonga)
Bua (Fiji)

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Common uses

Polynesian people in the pacific islands use the extremely fragrant blooms in their flower necklaces, which are called "Ei" in the Cook Islands, "Hei" in Tahiti or "Lei" in Hawaii.
In some Pacific island traditions, wearing a flower indicates relationship status. A flower worn on the left ear means the person is taken and on the right ear means available.
The plant is believed to have medicinal properties to treat several ailments. In Tonga a bark infusion is dripped into the nose, eyes and mouth to treat "ghost sickness". In Samoa parts of the plant are used to treat inflammation.
The flower is used to make Monoi Tiare Tahiti, a perfume-oil made by infusing the blossoms in coconut oil (see enfleurage).
Tiaré is also used in niche perfumery but its prohibitively high cost excludes use in commercial perfumery. Notable examples include Tiare by Ormonde Jayne launched in 2009 and Tiare by Chantecaille. The Tiaré flowers are hand picked and then laid unopened in oil for 15 days to obtain the extract.
Tiaré is used in a line of Aviva Pure products for natural skin & hair care.