The work of the late ethnobotanist Dr. Arthur Whistler who had spent years studying Samoan plant species will soon be published in "The Flora of Samoa" later this year.

Dr. Whistler, who was known to Samoans as "Tupu o le vao" (King of the Forests), spent most of his life studying and documenting Samoan plant species.

The book "The Flora of Samoa" contains all of Dr. Whistler's work in Samoa on plant species and has been finalised by the National Tropical Botanical Garden (N.T.B.G.) after Dr. Whistler passed away in 2020.

Dr. Whistler's partner Alice Campbell told the Samoa Observer on Tuesday that "The Flora of Samoa" contains Dr. Whistler's is lifework and is vital for botanists and the people of Samoa.

"The Flora of Samoa took Arthur years of dedicated, meticulous research and will provide a vital record for all Samoans and botanists, now and in the future," she said.

"It truly was, in his own words, his magnum opus. I am appreciative of the extensive, detailed efforts done by all to bring this long awaited and anticipated work into publication."

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, the Samoa Conservation Society (S.C.S.) President, James Atherton said the book is an important piece of work and they are happy that it is finally being published.

"It was his lifetime's work so it's great to have it finally finished. Unfortunate that he wasn't able to finish it himself but he had done all the work basically for it it was just a question of putting it together in the final document," Mr. Atherton said.

"We are grateful for the National Tropical Botanical Garden in the United States to put it all together and finalise the flora which [...] they are doing now and should be published in the next few months.

"Obviously anybody who studies plants, or is interested in plants, who loves plants would be happy that this is finally happening because this is like a Bile for people who like to identify plants."

Mr Atherton had also worked closely with Dr. Whistler when he was doing his research in Samoa studying the country's plants.

The book is important for the people of Samoa and will also he be used by people studying plants in the region, according to the S.C.S. President.

"It's particularly important for us here but it will be used by people studying plants across the region because its our plants are related to the plants of other islands around Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Hawaii," he said. 

"It's important research for Pacific regional botany, it is 50 years of work that's finally being put together in one document."

Mr Atherton added that Dr. Whistler was passionate about plants and Samoa.

"Being a young man coming here in the 60s and he fell in love with Samoa. He already [...] a master's degree in botany so obviously he is already interested in plants," he said.

"I think he was very excited to be on a tropical island with so many beautiful plants, interesting unusual plants so it was great for him and it became his lifetime's passion to study plants in particular, Pacific plants and in particular Samoan plants.

"It's wonderful to see his legacy finally coming to fruition."

Mr Atherton added that they are also doing their part to honour Dr. Whistler's legacy with the Art Whistler Memorial Garden, which is home to many of the plant species that Dr. Whistler had identified as threatened.

He also expressed his appreciation to the N.T.B.G. for completing the book which according to him is a major piece of work for any country.