Milo (Thespesia populnea), commonly known as the Portia Tree is species of flowering plant in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is a small tree found on coasts around the world. It may have originated in India. Its name is different in different languages in India. Common names vary according to the country and include Indian Tulip Tree, Pacific Rosewood, Seaside Mahoe (in Florida), Surina (the "elegant tree"), Suriya (Sinhala), Bebaru or Baru baru (Malay), Milo or Miro (in many Polynesian languages), Makoʻi (Rapanui), Gangaraavi (Telugu), Poovarasu (Tamil), Poovarasu (Malayalam), PakuR (Bengali) and Plaksa (Sanskrit).
Nowadays, its wood is mainly used in making furniture because of its good ability to undergo carving. The wood from the tree was used by early Tamil people to make instruments in ancient Tamilakam. It is possibly indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands and elsewhere in the Pacific, but may have been spread by early Polynesians for its useful wood and bast fibres. The Portia Tree reaches a height of 20–33 ft tall and a trunk diameter of 8–12 in. It grows at elevations from sea level to 902 ft in areas that receive 20–63 in of annual rainfall. The Portia Tree is able to grow in the wide range of soil types that may be present in coastal environments, including soils derived from quartz (sand), limestone, and basalt; it favors neutral soils (pH of 6–7.4).
Nowadays, its wood is mainly used in making furniture because of its good ability to undergo carving. The wood from the tree was used by early Tamil people to make instruments in ancient Tamilakam. It is possibly indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands and elsewhere in the Pacific, but may have been spread by early Polynesians for its useful wood and bast fibres. The Portia Tree reaches a height of 20–33 ft tall and a trunk diameter of 8–12 in. It grows at elevations from sea level to 902 ft in areas that receive 20–63 in of annual rainfall. The Portia Tree is able to grow in the wide range of soil types that may be present in coastal environments, including soils derived from quartz (sand), limestone, and basalt; it favors neutral soils (pH of 6–7.4).