Sterculia guttata
Roxb.
Malvaceae
Astrodendrum malabaricum Dennst.
Clompanus malabarica (Dennst.) Kuntze
Sterculia alata Wall.
Common Name:
Fruit cases opening to release seeds.
Photograph by: Vengolis
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Fruit cases opening to release seeds.
Photograph by: Vengolis
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Seeds inside the fruit case
Photograph by: Vinayaraj
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Leaves
Photograph by: Vinayaraj
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Flowering branch
Photograph by: Vinayaraj
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
General Information
Sterculia guttata is a deciduous tree growing up to 20 metres tall. The bole is straight and cylindrical[
372- Title
- Flowers of India
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.flowersofindia.net/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials,
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
464- Title
- A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
- Publication
-
- Author
- Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Dulau and Co; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
E. Asia - southern India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Andaman Islands, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos.
Habitat
Along the margins of evergreen forests, and in semi-evergreen forests, at elevations up to 900 metres. Very rare in moist, low country in Sri Lanka[
464- Title
- A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
- Publication
-
- Author
- Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Dulau and Co; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Deciduous Tree |
| Height | 15.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
Seeds - raw or roasted[
324- Title
- Edible Nuts.
- Publication
- Non-Wood Forest Products, Handbook 5
- Author
- Wickens G.E.
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/docrep/
- Publisher
- FAO, Rome.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 92-5-103748-5
- Description
- Detailed information on 20 of the most valuable nut crops, plus more basic information on a wide range of other nut-producing plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
2040- Title
- Ethnic Food Plants and Ethnic Food Preparation in Eastern Ghats and adjacent Deccan Region
- Publication
- Ethnobotany of India Vol 1 pp 129-211, 2017
- Author
- Sadasivaiah B. & Pullaiah T.
- Publisher
- Apple Academic Press; Oakville, Canada
- Year
- 2017
- ISBN
- 978-1-77188-339-9
- Description
-
]. Usually cooked, the seeds of species in this genus are generally rich in oil and have a flavour described by some as like peanuts[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. An important crop in times of food shortage[
2058- Title
- Sterculia and Brachychiton: a comprehensive overview on their ethnopharmacology, biological activities, phytochemist
- Publication
- Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 70 (2018), pp. 450-474
- Author
- Thabet A.A. et al
- Website
- http://10.1111/jphp.12876
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2018
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Medicinal
A juice obtained from the bark and the leaves is used in the treatment of fevers and diarrhoea[
2058- Title
- Sterculia and Brachychiton: a comprehensive overview on their ethnopharmacology, biological activities, phytochemist
- Publication
- Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 70 (2018), pp. 450-474
- Author
- Thabet A.A. et al
- Website
- http://10.1111/jphp.12876
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2018
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Other Uses
The bark yields a valuable cordage[
387- Title
- Economic Products of India. Volume 1.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Watt. G.
- Publisher
- Government of India: Calcutta.
- Year
- 1883
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Although over 100 years old, it still contains a wealth of information on useful plants. Many of the botanical names have been changed since then, so you have to check for up to date names. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The bark of the younger parts of the tree abounds with very strong, white, flaxen fibre which is used to make a kind of coarse cloth[
146- Title
- A Manual of Indian Timbers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gamble. J. S.
- Publisher
- Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- First written in the 19th century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader.
,
387- Title
- Economic Products of India. Volume 1.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Watt. G.
- Publisher
- Government of India: Calcutta.
- Year
- 1883
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Although over 100 years old, it still contains a wealth of information on useful plants. Many of the botanical names have been changed since then, so you have to check for up to date names. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The bark of 10 year old trees is used for making coarse clothing and cordage. The tree is felled, its branches are lopped, the trunk is cut into pieces 180cm long, a longitudinal incision is made in each piece, and the bark is opened, taken off entire, chopped, washed, and sun dried. In this state, it is very pliable and tough, and is used for clothing without further preparation[
454- Title
- Useful Fiber Plants of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dodge C.R.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- USDA; Washington.
- Year
- 1897
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The greyish-white wood is soft, light and porous[
146- Title
- A Manual of Indian Timbers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gamble. J. S.
- Publisher
- Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- First written in the 19th century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader.
]. It is of no value[
146- Title
- A Manual of Indian Timbers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gamble. J. S.
- Publisher
- Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- First written in the 19th century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader.
]. It can be used for indoor construction[
730- Title
- A Field Guide to Forest Trees of Northern Thailand
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gardener S.; Sidisunthorn P.; Anusarnsunthorn V.
- Publisher
- Kobfai Publishing Project; Bangkok.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 974-7799-01-4
- Description
- An excellent, concise guide to 430 species, plus notes on another 450 species. Excellent photographs and a separate section on distribution and plant uses.
].
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[
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
