Hibiscus tiliaceus—Cottonwood Hibiscus—MALVACEAE.
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Habitat—On margins of rainforest or swamp forest near the coast; banks of tidal rivers. Distribution—North from Port Macquarie New South Wales, Queensland and Northern Territory. Description—Small tree or shrub 2.5–8 m high. Local occurrences—
Brown's Creek Bicentennial Gardens,
Diamond Beach,
Forster/Tuncurry Streets,
One Mile Beach,
Sea Acres National Park and
Tuncurry Flora Park
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Leaves.— Simple, alternate, entire, lamina ± circular, 5 to 18 cm long, apex acuminate, base cordate, upper surface dark green and stellate–hairy, lower surface whitish and densely stellate–hairy. |
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Inflorescence—In a terminal raceme; peduncle articulate at the base. Epicalyx segments 8 to 13, triangular, 7 to 11 mm long. Calyx lobes lanceolate, 19 to 28 mm long. Corolla 5 to 7 cm long, yellow with red basal spot, often turning red before falling. Flowering.—December to February. |
Fruit—Capsule c. 25 mm long, densely pubescent with yellow–brown hairs. Ripe.—Late Summer to Autumn. |
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