Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

puarangi from Te Kao (Beever 1991)

bladder hibiscus, starry hibiscus

Sometimes comes up in abundance when old Māori garden sites are disturbed, even when the species is not known from the area. May have been cultivated for its flowers. (Given 1981) Given points out that this would mean the seed must be able to survive for very long periods without germination and raises the possibility of it being introduced by early Polynesian colonists.

The leaves were used to cleanse the hands (Watt, quoted in Brooker, Cambie and Cooper 1987) . Related pharmacology (ibid)

Found in northern North Island. Rare.