Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Malvales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Malvaceae
Genus
Hibiscus L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Hibiscus tiliaceus L., Sp. Pl. 694 (1753)
Vernacular Name(s):
Beach hibiscus; Corkwood; Fou
 Description

Tree up to c. 7 m high. Stems not armed, densely clothed in fine stellate hairs when young, becoming ± glabrous when older. Lvs densely clothed in stellate hairs below, velvety to touch, sparsely clothed in stellate hairs above, suborbicular with a short acuminate apex, cordate at base, not lobed and entire, c. 10–30 cm diam.; petioles c. 5–30 cm long; stipules elliptic-ovate, 20–40 mm long, deciduous. Fls in terminal infls; epicalyx segments united into an 8–12-toothed cup, with triangular teeth < ⅓ length of tube; calyx campanulate, densely clothed in stellate hairs; calyx teeth narrowly ovate-triangular, much > tube; petals yellow, reddish brown to purple at base and becoming reddish with age, 30–70 mm long. Capsule separating into 5 cells at dehiscence, each enfolded by a persistent adnate calyx segment. Seeds brown, sparsely papillate, c. 4 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Exotic
 Phenology

Flowering: Nov.–Dec.

 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Coloniser]
Linnaeus, C. 1753: Species Plantarum. Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm.
Steele, R.; Lowe, M. 2002–2006: Index. Subtropicals Index: 1–12.