| Hibiscus tiliaceus | |
|---|---|
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Hibiscus |
| Species: | H. tiliaceus |
| Binomial name | |
| Hibiscus tiliaceus L. |
|
Hibiscus tiliaceus is a species of flowering shrub or tree in the mallow family, Malvaceae.
H. tiliaceus is a common coastal plant native to Eastern and Northern Australia, Oceania and Southeast Asia. The plant is also an introduced feral species in several parts of the world including Southwestern Australia, Southern Africa and Hawaiʻi, where it was introduced by the first settlers.
H. tiliaceus is known by many thousands of common names throughout its range; these include Sea Hibiscus, Beach Hibiscus, Coastal (or Coast) Hibiscus, Coastal (or Coast) Cottonwood, Green Cottonwood, Native Hibiscus, Native Rosella, Cottonwood Hibiscus, Kurrajong, Sea Rosemallow and Norfolk Hibiscus. It is named Hau in Hawaiian and Purau in Tahitian.
H. tiliaceus can be found at elevations from sea level to 800 m (2,600 ft) in areas that receive 900–2,500 mm (35–98 in) of annual rainfall. It is commonly found growing on the beach, by rivers and in mangrove swamps. Sea Hibiscus is well adapted to grow in coastal environment in that it tolerates salt and waterlogging and can grow in quartz sand, coral sand, marl, limestone,[2] and crushed basalt.[3] It grows best in slightly acidic to alkaline soils (pH of 5-8.5).[2] It reaches a height of 4–10 m (13–33 ft), with a trunk up to 15 cm (5.9 in) in diameter.[4] The flowers of H. tiliaceous are bright yellow with a deep red centre upon opening. Over the course of the day, the flowers deepen to orange and finally red before they fall. The branches of the tree often curve over time.
Uses
The wood of H. tiliaceus has a specific gravity of 0.6. It has been used in a variety of applications, such as seacraft construction, firewood, and wood carvings. Its tough bark can be made into durable rope and for sealing cracks in boats. The bark and roots may be boiled to make a cooling tea to cool fevers and its young leafy shoots may be eaten as vegetables. Native Hawaiians used the wood to make ʻiako (spars) for waʻa (outrigger canoes), mouo (fishing net floats), and ʻau koʻi (adze handles). Kaula ʻilihau (cordage) was made from the bast fibres.[5] Hau would be used to make ʻama (canoe floats) if wiliwili (Erythrina sandwicensis) was unavailable.[6]
H. tiliaceus is widely used in Asian countries as a subject for the art of bonsai, especially Taiwan. The finest Taiwanese specimens are taken from Kenting National Park. Lending itself to free grafting, the leaf size is reduced fairly quickly.
References
- ^ "Hibiscus tiliaceus". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Hibiscus+tiliaceus+. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
- ^ a b Elevitch, Craig R.; Lex A.J. Thomson (April 2006) (PDF). Hibiscus tiliaceus (beach hibiscus). The Traditional Tree Initiative. http://www.agroforestry.net/tti/H.tiliaceus-beach-hibiscus.pdf.
- ^ Allen, James A. (2003-01-01). "Hibiscus tiliaceus L." (PDF). Tropical Tree Seed Manual. Reforestation, Nurseries & Genetics Resources. http://www.rngr.net/Publications/ttsm/Folder.2003-07-11.4726/PDF.2004-03-03.4433/file. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
- ^ Little Jr., Elbert L.; Roger G. Skolmen (1989) (PDF). Hau, sea hibiscus. United States Forest Service. http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/data/CommonTreesHI/CFT_Hibiscus_tiliaceus.pdf.
- ^ "hau, hau kaʻekaʻe". Hawaii Ethnobotany Online Database. Bernice P. Bishop Museum. http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/resultsdetailed.asp?search=hau. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
- ^ Medeiros, A. C.; C.F. Davenport; C.G. Chimera (1998) (PDF). Auwahi: Ethnobotany of a Hawaiian Dryland Forest. Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. http://www.hear.org/naturalareas/auwahi/ethnobotany_of_auwahi.pdf.
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