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Portia tree (Thespesia populnea; Family Malvaceae) is a small tree or arborescent shrub 5-10(-20)m high that is pantropical in littoral environments, although probably native only to the Old World. In Hawai‘i and elsewhere in the Pacific it is possibly indigenous, although may have been spread by early Polynesians for its useful wood and fiber. Common names vary according to the country and include (in addition to Portia tree): 'Indian Tulip Tree', 'Pacific Rosewood', 'Bebaru'/'Baru Baru' (Malay), 'Milo' (in Hawai‘i), 'Miro' (Pitcairn Island), and 'Seaside Mahoe' (Florida).[1]

On Pitcairn Island, miro (as it is called there) was once common but extensively logged. Throughout the 20th century, Pitcairners have sailed to Henderson Island to obtain miro wood. They use the wood to make curios from which they derive much of their income (Binggeli, 1999). Milo is popular in Hawaii for word working (commonly turned into bowls) because of the range of colors expressed (tan, through yellow, to red).

1 References

• Thespesia populnea at website: Australian native hibiscus and hibiscus like species.
• Binggeli, Pierre. 1999. Miro

2 External links

• Milo at Canoe Plants of Ancient Hawaii