French Tasmania

Not many Australians are aware that the French created the first detailed mapping of the coast of Tasmania and that they were the first to publish descriptions and illustrations of Australian native flora. Banks spent thousands of pounds of his own money having copper plates engraved from the original drawings of the English explorers but these were not published until late in the 20th century (just goes to show how long printing plates can last if properly cared for).
The French explorations of d'Entrecasteaux and Baudin collected thousands of plant samples from Australia which were subsequently stored at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris (unfortunately they are now in Florence). Some of these plants were grown at the Jardin des Plantes and many were also grown by the Empress Josephine (who was a gifted amateur botanist) at her home Malmaison.