Scientific Name: Hibiscus Tiliaceus
Common Name: Cotton Tree
Turrbal Name: Talwalpin (Petrie, 1904)
Kabi Kabi Name: Dulburpin (Welsby, 1916)
Indigenous Use
Inner bark fibre used to make fishing nets and ropes for dugong and turtle harpoons. The wood used for shields. The inner bark and sapwood was soaked in water, heated with hot stones and the liquid used to wash wounds. The bark was removed in strips and wrapped around wounds to cover and close them.
When to Use
The bark, wood and sapwood is available all year round.
Identification
Leaves: The leaves of Hibiscus tiliaceus, commonly known as Sea Hibiscus or Beach Hibiscus, are large, heart-shaped, and measure between 10-20 cm in length and width. They are dark green and glossy on the upper surface, with a paler underside that may have fine hairs. The leaf margins are smooth, and the veins are prominently visible (Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2024; Plants of the World Online, 2024).
Bark: The bark of Hibiscus tiliaceus is grey to brown and becomes rough and fissured with age. This tree can grow up to 10 meters in height and often has a spreading, bushy crown. The bark is known for its fibrous quality, which has traditionally been used for making ropes and mats (Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2024).
Flowers: The flowers of Hibiscus tiliaceus are large, showy, and typically yellow with a red or maroon centre. Each flower has five petals and measures about 10-15 cm in diameter. The flowers open in the morning and change colour, turning orange and then red by the evening before they wilt. Flowering usually occurs throughout the year, peaking in warmer months (Plants of the World Online, 2024).
Fruit: The fruit of Hibiscus tiliaceus is a capsule, approximately 2-3 cm long, that splits open when mature to release several seeds. The fruiting period typically follows the flowering season, extending from late summer to autumn (Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2024; Floridata, 2024).
Ecosystems
Found in the below ecosystem/s.
Dunes and Headlands: Dunes and headlands are prominent coastal features in Queensland, providing unique and vital habitats that support a diverse range of ecosystems. Coastal dunes are characterised by their sandy soils and are often stabilised by hardy vegetation such as spinifex, coastal banksia, and casuarina, which help prevent erosion. Headlands, which are rocky coastal points, offer habitats for a variety of marine and terrestrial species, including seabirds and coastal flora adapted to the harsh, saline environment.
Tidal Wetlands: Tidal wetlands are essential coastal ecosystems in Queensland, characterised by their regular flooding by tidal waters. These wetlands, which include mangroves and saltmarshes, play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity and maintaining coastal health. Mangrove forests, with species such as the grey mangrove (Avicennia marina) and red mangrove (Rhizophora stylosa), provide vital nursery grounds for fish, crustaceans, and other marine life. Saltmarshes, dominated by salt-tolerant plants like samphire (Sarcocornia quinqueflora) and seablite (Suaeda australis), offer habitat and feeding grounds for numerous bird species. Together, these tidal wetlands act as natural buffers, protecting coastal areas from storm surges and erosion while also filtering pollutants and storing carbon.
References
Australian National Botanic Gardens (2024). Hibiscus tiliaceus. Available at: https://www.anbg.gov.au/hibiscus-tiliaceus [Accessed 24 June 2024].
Plants of the World Online (2024). Hibiscus tiliaceus. Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid
.org:names:102022-1 [Accessed 24 June 2024].
Floridata (2024). Hibiscus tiliaceus. Available at: https://www.floridata.com/Plants/Malvaceae/Hibiscus-tiliaceus/866 [Accessed 24 June 2024].
Isaacs, J. (2019). Bush food : Aboriginal food and herbal medicine. Australia: New Holland Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd.
Leiper, Glen, Muteroo: Plant use by Australian Aboriginal People. Eagleby South State School, Brisbane
Levitt, Duclie, Plants and People: Aboiriginal Used of Plants on Groote Eylandt. Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, Canberra. 1981
Leiper, G., Glazebrook, J., Cox, D., & Rathie, K., 2008. Mountain to Mangroves: A Field Guide to the Native Plants of South-east Queensland. Logan River Branch, Society for Growing Australian Plants.
Welsby, T., Recollections of the Natives of Moreton Bay. University Society (Brisbane), 1916
Petrie, Constance, Tom Petrie’s Reminiscences of Early Queensland. Angus and Robertson, 1975, (facsmile of 1904 edition)