It is our good fortune and legacy to have both Māori and scientific names to describe the natural world around us. By Ann Graeme
In our native forest grows a moss, the largest moss in the world. Most pākehā simply call it the “giant moss”.
That is not very original.
Scientists have named it Dawsonia superba.
“Superb” is quite eloquent for a scientific name, and “Dawson” is a tribute to Dawson Turner, a distinguished British botanist and moss expert.
That is mildly interesting.
Māori called this moss pāhau kākāpō – “the beard of the kakapo”.
Now that is a name to remember!
What’s in a name? Quite simply, everything. Names provide identity, which is essential for communicating in a society. Scientific names, unique and universal in their usage, are vital for international scientific communication.
Names in te reo were equally vital in Māori society. Pre-European Māori looked at nature in a different way to modern scientists. They had an intimate knowledge of the natural world. They created practical, descriptive names that identified their sources of food, clothing, shelter, medicine, tools, and weapons. They created evocative, imaginative names because nature was the fount of their stories and understanding of the world.
The name pāhau kākāpō is both a playful image and a clever observation, comparing the little spiky leaves of the moss with the green, hair-like feathers that surround the kākāpō’s face.
Full article is here
