Lagunaria patersonia (Andrews) G. Don, Malvaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 7 (Go to the risk assessment).

Other Latin names:  Hibiscus patersonius Andrews

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Norfolk Island hibiscus, Norfolk hibiscus, cow-itch-tree, pyramid tree, sally wood, white oak, whitewood

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Tree to 20 or more m tall. Leaves subcoriaceous; lamina elliptic to broadly elliptic or lanceolate, (4-) 5-7 (-9) cm long, (1.3-) 2-3.5 (-5) cm broad, obtuse to acute at base, entire, obtuse to rounded, covered with fringed, appressed scales, very dense below, scattered above. Flowers with pedicels 1-2 cm long. Epicalyx reduced to a ridge surrounding base of calyx. Calyx 12-15 mm long, densely scaly; lobes 2-3 mm long, broadly triangular. Petals elliptic-lanceolate, 4-4.5 cm long, densely scaly dorsally, glabrous within, pink to rose-lilac, yellow towards base. Capsule spherical, 2-3 cm long; septae lined with irritating hairs c. 1 mm long"  (Flora of Australia online).

Habitat/ecology:  (no habitat/ecology info known by PIER)

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands (subsp. patersonia), eastern Queensland, Australia (subsp. bracteata (Benth.) P. S. Green)  (Flora of Australia online), cultivated and naturalized elsewhere (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	native	Australian Biological Resources Study (2013)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Norfolk Islands	Norfolk Island	native	Australian Biological Resources Study (2013)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	introduced invasive cultivated	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Lagunaria patersonia, please let us know.