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Story: Life sciences

Maire tawake, about 1860s

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Maire tawake, about 1860s

John Buchanan was a gifted botanist and botanical artist who accompanied James Hector on scientific expeditions in southern New Zealand. During his career he produced many pioneering papers and illustrations devoted to New Zealand's native plants. This is a cropped page from his notebook, showing his illustrated notes on maire tawake or swamp maire (Syzygium maire, formerly Eugenia maire). Buchanan moved with Hector to the Colonial Museum in Wellington in 1865. 

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Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira

Reference: MS41 John Buchanan notebook, p. 5

by John Buchanan

Permission of the Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Peter Clayworth, Life sciences – Beginnings, 1769–1900, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/44088/maire-tawake-about-1860s (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Peter Clayworth, published 27 January 2014.