Sterculia excelsa
Mart.
Malvaceae
Clompanus excelsa (Mart.) Kuntze
Sterculia goyazensis Glaz.
Sterculia pilosa Ducke
Sterculia speciosa K.Schum.
Sterculia surinamensis R.Br.
Common Name: Tacazeiro
General Information
Sterculia excelsa is a semideciduous tree with a small, dense crown; it can grow 25 - 35 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 40 - 60cm in diameter[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- Description
- Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of wood and fibre.
Sterculia excelsa has a wide distribution and is common within its range. It has no major threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2021)[
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
422- Title
- Fruits of the Guianan Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
- Publisher
- Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 90-9000988-4
- Description
- Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
Range
S. America - northern Brazil, the Guyanas, Venezuela.
Habitat
Tablelands in upland rainforests and in moist, Atlantic coastal forests[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- Description
- Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. Rainforests, especially marshy, riverine, creek and ridge forests[
422- Title
- Fruits of the Guianan Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
- Publisher
- Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 90-9000988-4
- Description
- Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Semi-deciduous Tree |
| Height | 30.00 m |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Succeeds in a sunny position or in moderate shade[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- Description
- Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
A fast-growing tree[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- Description
- Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. Newly planted young trees usually grow away quickly[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- Description
- Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
Edible Uses
Seed - cooked[
,
422- Title
- Fruits of the Guianan Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
- Publisher
- Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 90-9000988-4
- Description
- Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
]. Roasted[
422- Title
- Fruits of the Guianan Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
- Publisher
- Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 90-9000988-4
- Description
- Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
].
Medicinal
The inner bark is rasped and boiled, or soaked in cold water, then rubbed on the abdomen to hasten childbirth. If rubbed on the abdomen prior to the ninth month, however, the female will abort the foetus[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
Ashes of the bark are added to psychotomimetic snuff made from Nicotiana tabacum[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
Other Uses
The bark is fibrous[
592- Title
- Contributions to The Flora of Venezuela.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Steyermark J.A. Et al
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Chicago Natural History Museum; Chicago.
- Year
- 1951 - 1957
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent flora, though made at a time when botanical knowledge of the areas was still very lacking.
]. It is used for tying purposes and as head bands or straps for carrying objects[
592- Title
- Contributions to The Flora of Venezuela.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Steyermark J.A. Et al
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Chicago Natural History Museum; Chicago.
- Year
- 1951 - 1957
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent flora, though made at a time when botanical knowledge of the areas was still very lacking.
].
The boiled bark adds a desirable greasiness to body paint made with annatto (Bixa orellana)[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
The wood is light, straight-grained and coarse-textured[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- Description
- Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. It is a low resistance to wood eating organisms[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- Description
- Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. It is used for light construction, box making, toys, coffins and pulp[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- Description
- Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
Propagation
Seed - it has a short viability and needs to be sown as soon as possible once it is ripe. Sow in individual containers in partial shade. Germination rates are usually low, with the seed sprouting within 30 - 40 days[
625- Title
- Brazilian Trees. Volume 3.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 85-86714-34-4
- Description
- Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
].
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.
