Common Name:

General Information

Sterculia cordata is a deciduous tree growing up to 46 metres tall. The bole can be 76cm in diameter[].
The wood is harvested from the wild for commercial usage.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.

Habitat

An upper canopy tree in undisturbed mixed dipterocarp forests at elevations up to 700 metres[]. Usually on alluvial sites near or along rivers and streams, but also on ridges. In secondary forests usually present as a pre-disturbance remnant[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	35.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Usually on sandy soils, but also on clay and limestone[].

Edible Uses

Although we have seen no specific information for this species, the large seeds of many species in this genus are used for food. Usually cooked, they are rich in oil and have a flavour described by some as like peanuts[]. The brownish-black seeds are 10 - 20mm long[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is used commercially[].
We have no specific description for the wood of this species, but the following is a general description of the wood of Sterculia species in the Phillipines:-
The fresh wood is creamy white or very light gray or brown, but almost invariably staining to a silvery gray or a light brown; the sapwood is scarcely if at all distinguishable from the heartwood. The texture is coarse, spongy; the grain straight. The wood is soft to very soft; light to very light in weight; The durability is very poor; the wood being frequently attacked by beetles, though the heartwood, if seasoned rapidly and thoroughly, is somewhat better than the sapwood. Except for staining, the wood seasons well; it is very easy to work. Of low quality, it is used for cheap and temporary construction, box lumber, etc.; temporary mining timbers. It has been recommended for trial as match wood[].

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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