Sea Hibiscus

hibiscus tiliaceus

The Sea Hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus) is a resilient, coastal evergreen tree belonging to the mallow family. Thriving along sandy beaches, estuaries, and the margins of mangrove swamps, this sprawling plant acts as a vital shoreline stabilizer, preventing erosion with its extensive and dense root network. It is highly valued across many coastal cultures for its versatile wood, fibrous bark used in traditional cordage, and its beautiful ornamental qualities.

Lebensraum: Found in tropical and subtropical coastal environments, thriving along sandy beaches, mangrove borders, estuaries, and riverbanks.

Aussehen

This coastal tree typically grows between 300 to 1000 centimeters tall, featuring a sprawling, often crooked trunk with smooth, light-grey bark that becomes rough and fissured with age. Its most distinctive features are its large, deeply heart-shaped leaves, which are leathery, dark green on top, and covered with a fine, velvety greyish hair underneath. The striking, cup-shaped flowers open as bright yellow with a deep maroon center in the morning, gradually darkening to orange and then a rich reddish-brown by nightfall.

ReichPlantaeStammTracheophytaKlasseMagnoliopsidaOrdnungMalvalesFamilieMalvaceaeGattungHibiscus

Sea Hibiscus

Kategorie

Pflanzen

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

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Interessante Fakten

Its lightweight, water-resistant wood is so buoyant that it has been traditionally used to make outriggers, fishing floats, and lightweight canoes.

The dramatic color change of the flowers—from yellow to red—happens due to chemical changes in anthocyanin pigments as the flower ages throughout a single day.

The fibrous inner bark of the Sea Hibiscus is traditionally used throughout the Pacific islands to weave strong ropes, nets, and even grass skirts.

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Filters and excludes salt at the root level, allowing it to survive in highly saline coastal environments and brackish water.

Its flowers undergo a rapid color transformation from bright yellow to deep red-orange in a single day, helping attract different pollinators at different times.

Produces seeds encased in water-resistant, air-filled capsules that can float on ocean currents for months to colonize distant shores.

Maße und Details

Länge: 300+ cm
Lebenserwartung: 30+ Jahre

Ernährung und Fütterung

As a photoautotrophic plant, the Sea Hibiscus synthesizes its own food using sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and essential nutrients absorbed from the soil.

Hauptnahrung

Sunlight
Water
Carbon dioxide
Soil nutrients

Nahrungssuche

Photosynthesis

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

eaten by

Brown Land Crab

Cardisoma carnifex

Fallen flowers and leaves are consumed by coastal land crabs.

mutualism

Western Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Provides nectar and pollen, relying on the bees for pollination.

eaten by

Cotton Stainer

Dysdercus suturellus

Feeds on the seeds and young shoots of the plant.

Merkmale

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Sammlungen

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Sicherheit

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Noch keine besonderen Sicherheitshinweise.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

Wie identifiziert man Sea Hibiscus?

Der einfachste Weg, Sea Hibiscus zu bestimmen, ist die Verwendung der Naturführer-App Snappit.

Was ist der/die/das länge von Sea Hibiscus?

300+ cm

Was ist der/die/das lebenserwartung von Sea Hibiscus?

30+ Jahre

Was frisst Sea Hibiscus?

As a photoautotrophic plant, the Sea Hibiscus synthesizes its own food using sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and essential nutrients absorbed from the soil.

Wo findet man Sea Hibiscus normalerweise?

Found in tropical and subtropical coastal environments, thriving along sandy beaches, mangrove borders, estuaries, and riverbanks.

Wie jagt Sea Hibiscus?

Photosynthesis