Hibiscus tiliaceus Linnaeus Cottonwood MALVACEAE

Don Herbison-Evans (donherbisonevans@yahoo.com) and Buck Richardson

This shrub grows to a height of about 8 metres. It is grown over much of Queensland, Australia. The plant has smooth heart-shaped leaves, each with a length up to about 9 cms. The flowers are yellow with a dark brown interior, appearing in early summer. They have a diameter of about 9 cms.

The Australian Aborigines used the wood for making spears.

The species commonly occurs on beaches through much of the tropics (for example: Hawaii) and is sometimes planted as an ornamental shade tree (information courtesy of Paul A. Fryxell).

The foliage is food for some Caterpillars, for example :

Arhopala madytus (Bright Oak Blue) LYCAENIDAE,

Arhopala micale (Common Oak Blue) LYCAENIDAE, and

Anomis combinans EREBINAE.

Plectophila discalis XYLORYCTIDAE.