Common Name: Java Olive

General Information

Sterculia foetida is an attractive, umbrella-shaped, spreading deciduous tree that can grow up to 40 metres tall, but is usually smaller[, ]. The straight, cylindrical bole is up to 90cm in diameter[].
A multi-purpose tree, it is often harvested from the wild, providing a popular food, as well as medicines and a range of materials for local use[]. The plant is often cultivated as an ornamental in many parts of the tropics, even though its flowers are malodorous[, , ]. Coming across a Java Olive in bloom ones would think that one was near an open sewer, and any part of the tree when bruised or cut emits this unpleasant odour[]. It is unfortunate as the tree is extremely handsome; tall and straight, its well shaped crown swathed in coral, often without a single touch of green, it stands out amongst the surrounding verdure in great beauty and dignity[].

Known Hazards

The raw seed is said to be poisonous by some cultures, though roasting the seed destroys the toxic principle[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines to Australia.

Habitat

Lowland dry woodlands[]. Primary and secondary forests, usually on river banks and sandstone rocks along the coasts, and in thickets and open areas, at elevations up to 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Insects, cicadas
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Sterculia foetida is a plant of the hot, tropical lowlands, where it is found at elevations up to 1,500 metres[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 18 - 32°c, but can tolerate 16 - 36°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall within the range 1,100 - 1,800mm, but tolerates 900 - 2,000mm, growing in areas both with or without a clear dry season[].
Prefers a deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered position[, , ]. Succeeds in a wide range of soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7.5, tolerating 5 - 8[].
The flowers are very malodorous[, ].
The trees can be tapped for their gum about 5 times during their lifetime[]. The gum is collected in India after making incisions or wounds in the trunk and branches of the tree. The gum that exudes from these wounds is allowed to solidify to form irregular tears that are consequently cleaned and sorted[].
Dioecious, with male and female flowers found on separate trees[]. Both male and female forms must be grown if seed is required[].

Edible Uses

The seed can be eaten raw, roasted or fried[, , , ]. It is oily and has a pleasant, cacao-like flavour, but is not bitter[, ]. When roasted, it tastes like peanuts[]. The defatted kernels possess a cacao-like flavour and are used to adulterate cacao[].
Some caution needs to be applied, if they are eaten in large quantites the seeds can have a laxative to purgative effect[, ]. The raw seeds are laxative, but this effect is greatly reduced if the seed is roasted[].
The elliptic seeds are about 25mm long and 12mm in diameter at the centre[]. They are surrounded by a tough, parchment-like skin[].

The rootstock of young plants can be eaten raw[]. It is a rich source of starch, with a flavour similar to jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus)[].

Leaves[].

An edible non-drying oil is obtained from the seed[, , , ]. A bland, sweet-tasting, yellow oil with rather a high melting point[]. It has similar properties to, and can be used in the same way as, olive oil[]. The seeds contain about 40% oil[].

Medicinal

The bark is aperient, diaphoretic and diuretic[, ]. It is used in the treatment of dropsy and rheumatism[].

The leaves are aperient, diuretic and laxative[, ]. They are also used in the treatment of epilepsy[2058

The fruit is astringent and mucilaginous[, ]. It is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea[].

The seeds are used as a purgative in Ghana[].
Combining the boiled seeds with a decoction of the wood has been found to be an effective medication for the alleviation of rheumatism[].

The oil from the seed is laxative and carminative[]. It is applied externally to treat itches and other skin diseases[]. It is extracted on a local scale to be used in medicine[].

Other Uses

A fibre is obtained from the bark and the roots[, , ]. The fibre is the inner bark of the tree and, when freshly stripped, has a lace-like character which adapts it for fancy work[]. It is used for making mats, bags, cordage, and paper[]

A gum that resembles 'gum tragacanth', is obtained from the trunk and branches and is used for bookbinding and similar purposes[].

The leaves are insect repellent[, ].

A non-drying oil is obtained from the seed[]. The oil is used for lighting[, ]. An unusual feature of the seed is that oil is present in the testa as well as the kernel[]. The total oil content is about 34%[]. Traditionally, the oil is mixed with white earth and used as a paint[].

The timber is greyish-white and soft but is harder than most other species of the genus. It is easy to saw and work, finishes fairly well, is very perishable when exposed to the weather or is in contact with the ground, although it is fairly durable for interior work[]. It is used for making rough packing cases, and locally for making doors of huts, dugout canoes, boat planking, guitars and carved toys[].

Propagation

Seed - needs to be sown when fresh[]. Seedlings grow rapidly and form long taproots[]. They need to be planted into their permanent positions as soon as possible.
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[].
Cuttings

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