Cuban Bast, Sea Hibiscus

Scientific Name : Hibiscus tiliaceus L.
Common Name : Cuban Bast, Sea Hibiscus
Chinese Name : 黃槿, 桐花, 海麻, 萬年春
Family : MALVACEAE
Local distribution status : Native species

Anecdotes on plants

Origins Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Fujian, Taiwan. Also distributed in coastal regions of tropical and subtropical Asia.
Ecology Sea Hibiscus is a mangrove associate species and a member of the mangrove ecosystem. Mangrove associates inhabit the backshore, between true mangroves and land. Although they are not submerged by seawater, they can protect the shore from the damages caused by strong waves, thus helping to maintain the structural integrity of the seashore. In urban areas, we sometimes can find Sea Hibiscus in channelized riverbanks.
Sea Hibiscus and Portia Tree The Portia Tree (Thespesia populnea (L.) Solander ex Corr.) is also a plant species under Malvaceae, which shares a similar appearance with Sea Hibiscus and can be found in sunny places near seashores, but is seldomly seen in urban areas. The main differences between the two are that the leaves of Portia Tree are much longer, with more conspicuous, lighter coloured veins. Capsules of the Portia Tree are much larger, pear-shaped and indehiscent. Furthermore, its style branches of pistils are coloured in yellow, unlike the dark purple one of the Sea Hibiscus.

Traits for identification

Growing habit Evergreen tree.
Height To 7 m.
Stems Bark of trunk greyish white. Main trunk not obvious with lower branching for the natural individuals in coastal habitats. Cultivated ones have relatively clear main trunk.
Leaves Leathery, suborbicular to broadly ovate, base cordate, apex acute or abruptly acuminate. The shape of leaves is similar to a heart symbol. Basal veins 7 or 9.
Flowers Yellow, campanulate, slightly drooping, like bells. Calyx 5-lobed, lobe lanceolate. Corolla 5-lobed, lobes obovate, yellow in early anthesis, later turns orange red, inner base dark purple. Stamens monadelphous, many. Style of pistil 5-branched, like 5 tiny pompoms.
Fruits Capsule ovoid, valves 5, woody.
Seeds Reniform, smooth.
Flowering period July to August in Hong Kong.
Fruiting period September to November in Hong Kong.
Overview of <em>Hibiscus tiliaceus</em> L.
Trunk of <em>Hibiscus tiliaceus</em> L. Cultivated ones have relatively clear main trunk.
Bark of trunk greyish white.
Suborbicular to broadly ovate, base cordate, apex acute or abruptly acuminate. The shape of the leaves is similar to heart symbol.
Yellow, campanulate, slightly drooping, alike bells. Corolla 5-lobed, lobes obovate, inner base dark purple.
Petals orange red in late anthesis.
Capsule ovoid, valves 5, woody.
Exposed root system of <em>Hibiscus tiliaceus</em> L.
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Remarks

Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website : https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=5698

Scientific names from other databases
― Flora of China : Hibiscus tiliaceus Linnaeus
― Plants of the World Online : Hibiscus tiliaceus L.

Reference