Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Lagunaria patersonia (Andrews) G. Don

Synonyms

Hibiscus patersonia Andrews
Lagunaea patersonia (Andrews) Sims
Lagunaea squamea Vent.
Lagunaria patersonia (Andrews) G. Don subsp. patersonia
Lagunaria patersonia (Andrews) G. Don var. typica Domin
Lagunea patersonia (Andrews) Pers.
Solandra squamea (Vent.) Poir.

Family

Malvaceae (New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia)
Bombacaceae (Queensland)

Common Names

cow itch tree, cowitch tree, cowitchtree, itchy powder tree, Norfolk hibiscus, Norfolk Island hibiscus, pyramid tree, Sally wood, white oak, whiteoak, whitewood

Origin

Native to Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island.

Naturalised Distribution

This species is becoming naturalised is many parts of southern Australia (i.e. near Perth in south-western Western Australia, in south-eastern and southern South Australia, in the coastal districts of New South Wales and in southern Victoria).

Notes

Norfolk Island hibiscus (Lagunaria patersonia) is regarded as an environmental weed or potential environmental weed in some parts of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. This species has escaped gardens and invaded native vegetation, particularly in coastal areas.

In Western Australia, Norfolk Island hibiscus (Lagunaria patersonia) has invaded coastal cliff tops and disturbed natural vegetation in the Swan River estuary and Augusta area. In New South Wales it is listed as an environmental weed in the North Coast and Central Coast regions. It is also regarded as an environmental weed in the Geelong region in southern Victoria, and is recorded as a weed in Marino Conservation Park in South Australia.

Note: Until recently, this plant went by the name Lagunaria patersonia subsp. patersonia, while a very similar plant from coastal Queensland (i.e. the Queensland pyramid tree or Queensland white oak) went by the name Lagunaria patersonia subsp. bracteatus. However, recent research has indicated that the Queensland plant should be regarded as a separate species (i.e. Lagunaria queenslandica).

The Queensland pyramid tree (Lagunaria queenslandica) can be distinguished from Norfolk Island hibiscus (Lagunaria patersonia) by its cup-shaped floral bracts (i.e. cupular epicalyx), which are quickly shed (i.e. caducous).