Introduction to The British Gardener's website

Thespesia populnea

COMMON NAME

Portia tree, Pacific rosewood, Indian tulip tree, or milo

TYPE

Tree

FAMILY

Malvaceae

NOTES

Portia tree is a fast-growing evergreen shrub or small tree with a dense, broad crown; it can grow up to 20 metres tall. Its buoyant and hardy seed is adapted for oceanic dispersal. It is an attractive ornamental with valued reddish-brown heartwood, but forms dense thickets and reproduces profusely.

GEOGRAPHIC REGION

Probably originating in the Asiatic tropics, the plant is now pantropical in range.

NATIVE HABITAT

Coastal sites near streams exposed to tidal influence and not far inland from sea level. Trees can be found growing naturally at the high tide line above mangrove, but can tolerate an occasional brackish water tidal inundation.

WEB SOURCES

wikipedia.org

nativeplants.hawaii.edu

tropical.theferns.info



Thespesia populnea