Trees & Plants

Indian tulip tree

Hirundhu in

Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol. ex

A common tree in natural habitats The timber is hard, termite-resistant, has an attractive grain and dark-red colour. The tough fibrous bark is made into rope. A yellow dye is obtained from the flower and fruit, and a red one from the bark and heartwood. Tannin, oil and gums are

Details

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uses: The timber is hard, termite-resistant, has an attractive grain and dark-red colour. The tough fibrous bark is made into rope. A yellow dye is obtained from the flower and fruit, and a red one from the bark and heartwood. Tannin, oil and gums are also extracted from the plant. The bark is used to treat skin diseases, dysentery and haemorrhoids. Leaves are applied to the inflamed and swollen joints. The young fruit secretes a yellow sticky sap which is used to treat ringworm and other skin diseases. or × c ©
family: Malvaceae
synonym: Hibiscus litoreus J.Presl, Hibiscus populneus L.
description: Trees, to 15 m high. Leaves × A simple, alternate, 5-12.7 5.5-15 cm, orbicular or ovate, base cordate or truncate, apex acute or acuminate, margin entire or dentate, with peltate scales above, glabrescent or stellate-tomentose beneath; 5-7 nerved from the base, palmate; petiole 5-10 cm, swollen tipped. Flowers bisexual, solitary or in cymes, axillary or terminal; pedicels 20-50 mm long, jointed near the base. Calyx cupular, minutely 5 toothed or 5-parted, accrescent and flattened in fruit. Corolla light yellow with dark purple centre, × fading to purplish-pink, petals 5, 5-7.5 4-6 cm, obliquely obovate, narrowed and fleshy at base. Staminal tube 15-25 mm long, 5-toothed at apex. Fruit a capsule, globose, indehiscent; seeds many, ovoid, pubescent.
native range: Possibly Asia and the Pacific ex Correa Islands
distribution: Pantropical
english names: Indian tulip tree · Portia tree · Seaside mahoe Th
flowering fruiting: March – June
occurrence maldives: A common tree in natural habitats