Common Name:

General Information

Sterculia pexa is a deciduous tree with a dense, rounded crown; it can grow up to 20 metres tall[].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for its edible seed, fibre and timber. It is sometimes cultivated around villages, especially for its fibre[, ].

Known Hazards

The fruits are densely covered with long, irritating hairs[].

Botanical References

Range

Southeast China - southern China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand.

Habitat

Semi-open deciduous forests, sunny dry slopes, roadsides, sometimes cultivated around villages[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked[]. Edible after boiling[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The bark fibre is used for making rope or other similar purposes[, ].

The timber is good for furniture[]. The wood is of poor quality and is used for plywood and boxes[].

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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