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 |
