Hibiscus tiliaceus

Hibiscus tiliaceus, commonly known as the sea hibiscus or coast cottonwood, is an evergreen species of flowering tree in the mallow family, Malvaceae, with a pantropical distribution along coastlines. It has also been introduced to Florida and New Zealand. It has been debated whether this species is native or introduced to Hawaii.

Description

A tree which keeps its leaves throughout the year. It is small and spreading. It grows to 5-9 m tall and spreads to 3-6 m across. The stem is erect and short. The bark is grey and smooth. The branches spread widely. The crown has an open texture. The leaves are light green. They can be round or heart-shaped. They are 12 cm long. They are densely hairy underneath. They have a short pointed tip. The flowers are yellow and have a deep pink/purple centre. They are 12 cm across. They have 5 overlapping petals. The flowers are in the axils of the upper leaves. The fruit is a hairy partly woody capsule. It is 2 cm across and brown and splits open when ripe. It contains several small kidney shaped seeds. There are same named varieties. The plant varies a lot.

Edible 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. It is easy to plane and turns well, so it is regarded by many as a high quality furniture wood. Plant fibers taken from the stems have traditionally been used in rope making, while its bark has been used like cork, in 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 fibers. Hau would be used to make ʻama (canoe floats) if the preferred wiliwili (Erythrina sandwicensis) was unavailable. Hibiscus tiliaceus is widely used in Asian countries, especially Taiwan, as a subject for the art of bonsai. The finest specimens are taken from Kenting National Park. Lending itself to free grafting, the leaf size is reduced fairly quickly. Its leaves are also used in cooking, as trays for steamed rice cakes (粿). In Indonesia H. tiliaceus is also used for fermenting tempeh. The undersides of the leaves are covered in downy hairs known technically as trichomes to which the mold Rhizopus oligosporus can be found adhering in the wild. Soybeans are pressed into the leaf, and stored. Fermentation occurs resulting in tempeh. Indigenous Australians traditionally used the inner bark of the tree to craft fishing nets and ropes, particularly for use with dugong and turtle harpoons. The wood was also employed in the making of shields. Medicinally, the inner bark and sapwood were soaked in water and heated with hot stones, producing a liquid that was applied to wash wounds. Strips of bark were additionally used as natural bandages, wrapped around injuries to cover and close them.

Traditional Uses

Roots, flowers and young leaves can be eaten. They flowers can be dipped in batter and fried. The leaves are also fermented into a sauce. The bark, shoots and sap wood are recorded as eaten in New Caledonia. The slimy sap and bark are eaten. The stalks are sucked. The shoots are stripped of their bark and burnt then the ashes added to dished for flavour.

Distribution

It grows in warm temperate regions. It can grow in the tropics and subtropics. It suits light soils in an open, sunny position. The soils are best to be well drained but moist. It is damaged by frost. It can tolerate drought and salt spray. It often grows naturally near the seashore. It grows along most tropical coasts in tidal forests. It will grow in soils with pH between 5.0 and 8.5. In Samoa it grows from sea level to 650 m altitude. It does not grow well on atolls. It grows on the edges of mangroves. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Where It Grows

Africa, American Samoa, Andamans, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Bhutan, Bougainville, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caribbean, Caroline Islands, Central Africa, Central America, China, Christmas Island, Chuuk, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, East Africa, East Timor, Easter Island, Ecuador, Equatorial-Guinea, Eswatini, Fiji, French Polynesia, FSM, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mariana Islands, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Tahiti, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Tropical America, Tuvalu, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna, West Africa, West Indies, Yap, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. Seed remain viable after floating in sea water for several months.

Production

It is a fast growing plant. Plants can be heavily pruned and will shoot again.

Other Information

It tends to be a famine food eaten when other foods are in short supply.

Notes

There are about 300 Hibiscus species.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Ai-fau, Attu parathi, Bade-luti, Baharu, Bamede, Bameo, Bane-bane, Bane, Baniah, Baro, Baru-baru, Baru, Bebane, Belapata, Bola, Bourao, Bup tra, Burao, Butsu raava, Chelwa, Coast Cottonwood, Coast hibiscus, Cottonwood, Cuan bast, Darah-darah, Dhiggaa, Emajagua, Epainta, Ermall, Etagogu, Fau, Fautu'u, Fou, Gaal', Hau, Huang jin, Kalau, Kali bang-bang, Kayu baru, Kilife, Langkubing, Lenya-shaw, Linden hibiscus, Lo, Mahoe, Majagua, Menoa, N'farande, Nirparathi, Nwohwea, Pago, Pah, Pauat, Paw-talay, Purau, Purundu, Safed chika, Sea Hibiscus, Tapai-tapai, Te kiaiai, Te rau, Thinban, Tra lam cheo, Unfarande, Vau ndamu, Vau, Vo, Vole, Wulolo, Yellow mallow tree, Ye-ngan-shaw

References (92)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 42
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 268
• Anon., 2003, Native Plants for the Fitzroy basin. Society for Growing Australian Plants Inc. (Rockhampton Branch) p 60
• Barrau, J., 1976, Subsistence Agriculture in Melanesia. Bernice P. Bishop Museu, Bulletin 219 Honolulu Hawaii. Kraus reprint. p 56
• Barwick, M., 2004, Tropical and Subtropical Trees. A Worldwide Encyclopedic Guide. Thames and Hudson p 220

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