Portia tree (Thespesia populnea, Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. 9: 290 (1807))

Family: Malvaceae

Author: (L.) Sol. ex Corrêa

Bibliography: Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. 9: 290 (1807)

Year: 1807

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Thespesia

Vegetable: False

Observations: NE. Sudan to Indian Ocean, Trop. & Subtrop. Asia to Pacific

Description

The Portia tree, scientifically known as Thespesia populnea, is a versatile and resilient species belonging to the Malvaceae family. First described comprehensively in 1807 by botanists (L.) Sol. ex Corrêa, the Portia tree boasts a rich bibliographic history, with its classification recorded in the Annals of the National Museum of Natural History.

This tree is widespread, thriving in regions spanning from northeastern Sudan to the Indian Ocean, and extending through tropical and subtropical Asia to the Pacific. The Portia tree’s ability to adapt to diverse climates and environments underscores its ecological flexibility and importance.

Typically found in coastal regions, the Portia tree plays a crucial role in stabilizing shorelines, thereby preventing erosion. Its dense foliage provides substantial shade, making it a favored choice for planting in parks and along streets in tropical climates. Additionally, the tree’s timber is highly valued for its durability and workability, often used in boat building and furniture making due to its resistance to seawater and termite attacks.

The Portia tree also holds significant cultural and medicinal value in various regions. In traditional medicine, different parts of the tree—such as its bark, leaves, and flowers—are utilized for their purported therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.

In conclusion, Thespesia populnea, or the Portia tree, is not just an ecological asset but also a cultural and practical resource, contributing to both environmental stability and human activities across the regions it inhabits.

Common Names

Msa: bebaru
Eng: indian tuliptree, pacific rosewood, polynesian rosewood, portia tree, seychelles rosewood, spanish cork, bendytree, cork-tree, corktree, majagua, milo, porlia-tree, portia-tree, seaside mahoe, tuliptree, umbrella-tree
Deu: küsten-tropeneibisch
Fra: arbre ombrelle, bois de rose d’océanie, kalfata, motel debou, porché
Por: bela-sombra, pau-rosa
Swa: mtakawa
En: Portia tree, Annadine, Portia-Tree, Lagoon tulip-tree, Indian tuliptree, Pacific rosewood, Polynesian rosewood, Seychelles rosewood, Spanish cork, Bendytree, Cork-tree, Corktree, Majagua, Milo, Porlia-tree, Seaside mahoe, Tuliptree, Umbrella-tree, Tree hibiscus
Bn: পরশপিপুল
My: ဇမ္ဗူပနီ
Zh: 恒春黄槿, 繖楊
Nl: Strandpopulier
Fr: Arbre ombrelle, Bois de rose d’Océanie, Kalfata, Motel debou, Porché, Bois de peinture, Valou
De: Portiabaum, Küsten-Tropeneibisch
Ha: Natsika
Id: Waru laut
Kn: ಆಶ
Ms: Pokok Bebaru, Bebaru
Ml: പൂവരശ്ശ്
Mr: भेंड
Fa: لاله هندی
Pt: Bela-sombra, Pau-rosa
Su: Waru laut
Sw: Mtakawa
Ty: Miro
Zh-tw: 繖楊
Ta: பூவரசு
Te: గంగరావి
Th: โพทะเล
To: Milo
Zh-hant: 恆春黃槿

Synonyms

• Malvaviscus populneus ((L.) Gaertn.)
• Thespesia altissima (Spreng.)
• Thespesia populnea var. macrocarpa (Pierre)
• Hibiscus baccifer (G.Forst.)
• Thespesia populnea var. rheedei (Pierre)
• Bupariti populnea ((L.) Rothm.)
• Bupariti altissima ((Spreng.) Rothm.)
• Parita populneus ((L.) Scop.)
• Thespesia populnea var. typica (Domin)
• Hibiscus macrophyllus ((Blume) Oken)
• Thespesia populnea var. bynoeana (Domin)
• Hibiscus blumei (Kuntze)
• Thespesia macrophylla (Blume)
• Hibiscus populneus (L.)
• Hibiscus litoreus (J.Presl)
• Hibiscus populifolius (Salisb.)

Distribution

• Aldabra (native)
• Andaman Is. (native)
• Assam (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Bismarck Archipelago (native)
• Borneo (native)
• Cambodia (native)
• Caroline Is. (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Cocos (Keeling) Is. (native)
• Comoros (native)
• Djibouti (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• Fiji (native)
• Gilbert Is. (native)
• Hainan (native)
• Hawaii (native)
• India (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Kenya (native)
• Laccadive Is. (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Line Is. (native)
• Madagascar (native)
• Malaya (native)
• Maldives (native)
• Maluku (native)
• Marianas (native)
• Marquesas (native)
• Marshall Is. (native)
• Mauritius (native)
• Mozambique (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Nansei-shoto (native)
• Nauru (native)
• New Caledonia (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• Nicobar Is. (native)
• Niue (native)
• Oman (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Pitcairn Is. (native)
• Queensland (native)
• Rodrigues (native)
• Samoa (native)
• Seychelles (native)
• Society Is. (native)
• Solomon Is. (native)
• South China Sea (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Sulawesi (native)
• Sumatera (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Tonga (native)
• Tuamotu (native)
• Tubuai Is. (native)
• Vanuatu (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• Wake I. (native)
• Wallis-Futuna Is. (native)
• Aruba (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Belize (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Brazil Northeast (introduced)
• Burkina (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Cayman Is. (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• Easter Is. (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Gambia (introduced)
• Ghana (introduced)
• Guinea (introduced)
• Guyana (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Liberia (introduced)
• Mexico Central (introduced)
• Mexico Gulf (introduced)
• Mexico Northeast (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Netherlands Antilles (introduced)
• Nicaragua (introduced)
• Nigeria (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Panamá (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Senegal (introduced)
• Somalia (introduced)
• Southwest Caribbean (introduced)
• Suriname (introduced)
• Togo (introduced)
• Tokelau-Manihiki (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Turks-Caicos Is. (introduced)
• Tuvalu (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Aug 15, 2021 by Pierre-Émile Grollimund (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 15, 2021 by Tib ‘Z (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 4, 2020 by Samad Kottur (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 6, 2020 by Geneviève Ruaullt (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 11, 2019 by Philippe VINCENT (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Feb 17, 2021 by Mélanie Herteman (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2021 by Pierre-Émile Grollimund (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 30, 2019 by Benoît BORE (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 18, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 18, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jan 22, 2022 by co durand (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 11, 2021 by Claire GOLLETY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 17, 2021 by Mélanie Herteman (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 18, 2020 by cattode (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 30, 2019 by Benoît BORE (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Bark

Taken Dec 4, 2021 by Yonah charlery (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 26, 2022 by Benitez Jesus (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 1, 2012 by sandro.todeschini todeschini (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 8, 2021 by quentin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2021 by Pierre-Émile Grollimund (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Feb 9, 2017 by Guy Van Laere (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 30, 2016 by richard gautier (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 30, 2016 by richard gautier (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 30, 2016 by richard gautier (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2021 by Pierre-Émile Grollimund (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Mar 4, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 15, 2017 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Feb 15, 2017 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3152795)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:564713-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol. ex Corrêa)

Specifications

Growth form>: Single Stem

Growth habit>: Tree, Shrub

Growth rate>: Rapid

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 6.0