Deciduous shrub with many disorganised stems and star hairs, mostly in drier parts. Not considered a rainforest plant. Drought tolerant and hardy. Survives in very harsh conditions. Leaves egg-shaped to broadly heart-shaped with irregularly toothed margins. The upper surface rough to the touch, lower surface softly hairy. Usually 5-veined from the base, secondary and cross veins very obvious. Yellowish petioles to 4 mm. Fruits are brown, shaped like dog’s balls, to 10 mm in diameter. Tiliaceae is not recognised as family by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group. The APG II system submerges Tiliaceae in the Malvaceae, which unites the four families Bombacaceae, Malvaceae, Sterculiaceae and Tiliaceae.
Photo: Robert Whyte
