Small tree to about 10m. Thespesia from 'thespesios' divine or sacred, referring to the plant growing around sacred places in Tahiti and populneoides after Populas the popular tree and '-oides' resembling, referring to the similar leaves.
Weed Category:
Weed:
No
Form or habit:
Small tree
Family:
Malvaceae
Leaf:
Simple, both sides densely dotted with rusty scales, 4-20 x 4-15cm, petioles 5-10cm long.
Flower conspicuous:
Conspicuous
Flower colour:
Yellow, Red, Purple
Flower description:
Large, solitary, axillary, five petalled, yellow flowers with dark red or purple bases, 5-6.5cm long. Old flowers become completely reddish. February to June.
Fruit conspicuous:
Conspicuous
Fruit colour:
Brown
Fruit:
Fruit description:
Brown many seeded nut, 2 x 2.5-4.5cm, dotted with copper scales (visible with a lens), four to six-valved. May to September.
Habitat:
Gallery (riverine or riparian) forest, littoral rainforest.
Distribution
Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, New Guinea, Malesia, Asia.
Food source for:
Toxicity:
No toxicity known
Origin:
Australia, New Guinea, Malesia, Asia.
Notes:
Information sources:
Cooper W. (2004) Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest.
