Ohamabou (English spelling) sea hibiscus

An evergreen small tree of the Malvaceae (APG classification: Malvaceae). The leaves are circular-cordate, 10-15 cm long, heart-shaped at the base, slightly glossy on the upper surface, and gray-green with dense short hairs on the underside. The flowers are bright yellow and about 7 cm in diameter. They are used for decoration, and there is a color drawing of them on a Ryukyu stamp. The bast fibers are used for ropes and textiles. They are propagated by cuttings and used for wind and tide protection. They grow in coastal lowlands and are distributed in the tropical regions south of the Ogasawara Islands, Yakushima, and Tanegashima. A similar species is Thespesia populnea (L.) Soland., which is in the same family. It is distributed south of Tokunoshima and on the coasts of tropical Asia. The style and stigma structure are different from those of the Oohamabo. The flowers are yellow at first, then the edges turn purple. The wood is hard and is used for furniture.

[Keiichi Shimabukuro April 17, 2020]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

アオイ科（APG分類：アオイ科）の常緑小高木。葉は円心形で長さ10～15センチメートル、基部は心臓形で、表面はやや光沢があり、裏面は短毛を密生し灰緑色。花は鮮黄色で径約7センチメートル、観賞用とされ、琉球(りゅうきゅう)切手に原色図がある。靭皮(じんぴ)繊維は縄、織物などに使う。挿木で殖やし防風、防潮に用いる。海岸低地に生育し、小笠原諸島、屋久島(やくしま)、種子島(たねがしま)以南、熱帯に分布する。類似のものに同科のサキシマハマボウThespesia populnea (L.) Soland.がある。徳之島以南、熱帯アジアの海岸に分布する。オオハマボウとは花柱、柱頭の構造が異なる。花は初め黄色、のち縁辺が紫色を帯びる。材は硬く家具材とする。

［島袋敬一　2020年4月17日］

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