HIBISCUS TILIACEUS

A large shrub or tree (''Hibiscus tiliaceus '') of the family Malvaceae. ''H. tiliaceus'' is a common coastal plant native to Eastern and Northern Australia, Oceania and South-East Asia. The plant is also an introduced feral species in several parts of the world including South-Western Australia, Southern Africa and Hawai'i, where it was introduced by the first settlers, . ''H. tiliaceus'' is known by many thousands of names throughout its range including 'Hau ' in Hawaiian, 'purau ' in Tahitian, 'Beach Hibiscus', 'Tewalpin', 'Sea Hibiscus' and 'Coastal Cottonwood'. ''H. tiliaceus'' has a wide environmental tolerance and can withstand saline and infertile soils, drought or conditions of waterlogging and is found in areas with annual rainfall ranging from 800 to over 2000mm.
The blossoms of the 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 and the wood has been used for seacraft construction, firewood, wood carving and many other uses. The inner bark of the tree has been used by Hawaiian Polynesians to make rope.

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