Dombeya tiliacea
(Endl.) Planch.
Malvaceae
Assonia natalensis (Sond.) Kuntze
Assonia tiliacea Kuntze
Dombeya decus-silvae K.Schum.
Dombeya dregeana Sond.
Dombeya elegans K.Schum.
Dombeya gracilis K.Schum.
Dombeya natalensis Sond.
Xeropetalum tiliaceum Endl.
Common Name:
General Information
Dombeya tiliacea is a shrub or a small tree, usually growing around 2 - 9 metres tall, occasionally reaching 14 metres[
328- Title
- African Flowering Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
- Publisher
- Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].. The bole is around 30cm in diameter.
The plant yields a fibre from the bark. It is a fast-growing and beautiful flowering shrub or small tree that is sometimes grown as an ornamental[
454- Title
- Useful Fiber Plants of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dodge C.R.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- USDA; Washington.
- Year
- 1897
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Dombeya tiliacea has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major
threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
1954- Title
- Revision of the genus Dombeya (Sterculiaceae) in southern Africa
- Publication
- Bothalia 16,1; 1-9 (1986)
- Author
- Verdoorn I.C. & Herman P.P.J.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
Range
Southern Africa - eastern S. Africa
Habitat
Bush, mixed scrub, coastal short forest or subtropical scrub forest; at elevations up to 1,525 metres[
328- Title
- African Flowering Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
- Publisher
- Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
,
1954- Title
- Revision of the genus Dombeya (Sterculiaceae) in southern Africa
- Publication
- Bothalia 16,1; 1-9 (1986)
- Author
- Verdoorn I.C. & Herman P.P.J.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 5.00 m |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
In cultivation, species in this genus generally grow best in a moist but well-drained, fertile soil and a position in full sun or partial shade[
974- Title
- Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ahmed Fayaz
- Publisher
- Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-1-55407-489
- Description
- A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
A fibre obtained from the bark is suitable for cordage or for paper stock[
454- Title
- Useful Fiber Plants of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dodge C.R.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- USDA; Washington.
- Year
- 1897
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Like all the species belonging to this genus, the fibre is brownish in colour. It is at best, however, a very coarse fibre
and is not to be compared with mallow fibre of the commonest description[
454- Title
- Useful Fiber Plants of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dodge C.R.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- USDA; Washington.
- Year
- 1897
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Seed is very small but can be extracted from fully ripened, dry flower heads. Its viability declines within 3 months, so fresh seed has to be used for sowing. Seed is to be sown in properly drained seedbeds. Seedlings emerge in about 3 weeks[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Cuttings of semi-ripe wood, preferably with some bottom heat to encourage rooting[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
