Threats or Importance
Cuban bast is a native tree species in Hong Kong. The leaves can feed the caterpillars of a butterfly called chestnut angle. The leaf secretion is the food of weaver ants, and the seeds can be eaten by cotton stainer bugs.
Plants
Cuban Bast
Scientific Name
Hibiscus tiliaceus
Other Common Name(s)
Sea Hibiscus, Coast Cottonwood
Height
Up to 7 m
Flowering Season
June to August
Reproduction
Pollinated by insects. Seeds dispersed by water.
Fun Facts
With salt glands on the leaves, Cuban bast can excrete excess salt and survive in regions of high salinity. They are also fast-growing and resistant to wind. They are planted near the coast as wind shelter.
In the old days, people in Taiwan used the large leaves to wrap dumplings or hold them like a plate. These dumplings were used to treat relatives and friends during Chinese New Year.
Origins
Tropical and subtropical zones around the global
Threats & Conservation
Threats & Conservation
Conservation
