Edible : Roots, Flowers, Leaves, Bark, Sap, Fruit
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.
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.
Other names:
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, Beach Hibiscus, Cotton Tree, Country Mallow
Synonyms :
Hibiscus abutiloides;
Hibiscus azanzae Roxb.;
Hibiscus bracteosus DC.;
Hibiscus celebicus Koord.;
Hibiscus elatus Sw.;
Hibiscus hastatus L.f.;
Hibiscus similis Blume;
Kydia calycina Roxb.;
Pariti tiliaceum (L.) Britt. ex Britt & Millsp.;
Paritium tiliaceum (L.) A. Juss. ex St Hil.;
Talipariti tiliaceum (L.) Fryxell;
Hibiscus tortuosus Roxb.;