Heritiera littoralis

Name and publication

Heritiera littoralis Aiton, Hort. Kew. 3: 546 (1789).

Description

Fruits of the looking-glass-tree are sold as “exceri pods” in the potpourri trade. Follicles are woody, walnut-like, beaked and keeled to aid in flotation, 4.5-8.5 cm long x 1.5-2.5 cm wide.

Nativity and distribution

Heritiera littoralis is native to Asia, Africa, Australia, Fiji, Micronesia, New Caledonia, and Tonga.

Family

Malvaceae, also placed in Sterculiaceae