Père Armand David receives giant panda skin and describes Davidia

Background. Armand David was a Lazarist missionary, zoologist, and botanist from the French Basque Country. He lived in China, where he discovered numerous species unknown to Western science, including the giant panda in Baoxing County and the genus Davidia. His work bridged missionary duties with significant natural history contributions.

Giant Panda Encounter. David received the skin of a giant panda from a hunter in Baoxing, China. This event marked the first time the species became known to a Westerner. The giant panda is a bear species endemic to China, and David's discovery was among the most notable animals he found that were previously unknown to Europeans.

Davidia Description. David first described the pocket handkerchief tree in 1869 as a single tree found at over 2,000 m altitude. He sent dried specimens to Paris, where Henri Baillon later described it as a new genus and species in 1871. The genus Davidia is named after David, honoring his naturalist contributions.