Sterculia amazonica
E.L.Taylor ex Mondragón
Malvaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Sterculia amazonica is a tree that can grow around 20 - 40 metres tall. The bole is unbuttressed[
2060- Title
- Tres Nuevas Especies de Sterculia L. (Sterculiaceae) de Venezuela
- Publication
- Acta Bot. Venez, 28 (1); 135-144, 2005
- Author
- Mondragón A.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2005
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a source of materials.
Sterculia amazonica is a little known species that is distributed in southern Venezuela and possibly also in Brazil. The main threats to the species are urban development and the use of wood for the production of canoes and houses[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. The plant is classified as 'Data Deficient' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
2060- Title
- Tres Nuevas Especies de Sterculia L. (Sterculiaceae) de Venezuela
- Publication
- Acta Bot. Venez, 28 (1); 135-144, 2005
- Author
- Mondragón A.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2005
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
Range
S. America - southern Venezuela
Habitat
Deciduous and evergreen forests; at elevations from 50 - 500 metres[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Data Deficient |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 25.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
Sterculia amazonica is consumed as food by humans and birds[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. This is almost certainly referring to the seeds[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The bark is used to make canoes and the walls of traditional houses[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
The wood is used to make poles for traditional houses[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Propagation
A physical dormancy caused by the hard seed coat of the mature seeds of many species in this genus can be overcome by scarifying the seed. This is carried out by cutting away or abrading some of the seed coat to allow the ingress of water, though great care must be taken not to damage the embryo[
]. The aril surrounding the seed should also be removed - this is easiest when it has been softened through soaking in water[
]. The seeds germinate optimally at temperatures between 20 - 30°c. They can be sown in a nursery seedbed or in containers. A germination rate of about 95%, occurring within about 2 weeks can be expected if the seed has been properly treated[
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
