Hibiscus hastatus

taxobox


status = G5
status_system = TNC
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Eudicots
unranked_ordo = Rosids
ordo = Malvales
familia = Malvaceae
genus = "Hibiscus"
species = "H. hastatus"
binomial = "Hibiscus hastatus"
binomial_authority = L.f.
synonyms = *"Hibiscus tricuspis" Cavanilles
*"Talipariti hastatum"|

"Hibiscus hastatus" is a large shrub or tree in the family Malvaceae. "H. hastatus" is known by its common name of Purau teruere or Tahiti hibiscus.

The blossoms of "H. hastatus" are pale yellow (occasionally with intermittent pale red petal margins) and a deep red center upon opening. Over the course of the day, the flowers deepen to orange and finally red before they senesce.

Leaves are variably 3-lobed with some leaves being more slender and nearly lobeless ('hastatus' refers to the spear-like shape of the leaves).

Some references treat "H. hastatus" as a subspecies of "Hibiscus tiliaceus".

References

*http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/HBS/botany/cultivatedplants
*http://www.agroforestry.net/tti/H.tiliaceus-beach-hibiscus.pdf
*http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/Faculty/Carr/page12.htm