Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Medinilla waterhousei

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Kingdom
  
Plantae

Family
  
Melastomataceae

Scientific name
  
Medinilla waterhousei

Order
  
Myrtales

Genus
  
Medinilla

Rank
  
Species

Medinilla waterhousei wwwryanphotographiccomimagesJPEGSMedinilla20

Similar
  
Medinilla, Trochetia boutoniana, Medinilla speciosa, Medinilla cummingii, Medinilla beamanii

Medinilla waterhousei, commonly known as tagimaucia or tagimoucia (tahng-ee-mow-theea), is a species of flowering plant in the family Melastomataceae which is endemic to highland rainforest of the Fijian island of Taveuni. It is a liana bearing crimson and white flowers in 30 cm-long hanging clusters. It only grows at altitudes of over 600 m, flowering from October to December. The flower is the floral emblem of Fiji. The flower is now represented on the Fiji $50 note replacing the queen.

Medinilla waterhousei Medinilla waterhousei Tagmaucia Crater Lake Taveuni Fiji low resjpg

Legend

Medinilla waterhousei last signs of the tagimaucia flower medinilla waterhousei

A local romantic legend attached to the flower has it representing the tears of a young girl forbidden by her father to marry the boy of her dreams so as she wept her tears became the flower.

Medinilla waterhousei Namuamua The Tagimoucia A Floral Emblem

Medinilla waterhousei Medinilla waterhousei Wikipedia

Medinilla waterhousei Pacific Islander The Legend of Tagimoucia

References

Medinilla waterhousei Wikipedia
(Text) CC BY-SA