Common Name:

General Information

Sterculia setigera is a large, deciduous shrub or a tree with a large, open, spreading crown; it generally grows up to 16 metres tall, but specimens up to 35 metres tall have been recorded in the Sudan and Guinea zones[, ].
The tree has a range of local uses, being harvested from the wild for food, medicine and to supply a variety of commodities. A gum obtained from the tree is traded in local markets[].
Sterculia setigera has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Senegal to Eritrea, south to Angola and Tanzania.

Habitat

Savannah; Acacia-Commiphora woodland; wooded grassland and bushland; characteristic of stony hills; rocky slopes or black cotton soil; dry deciduous riverine and savannah forest; sandy or gravelly soils; laterite; elevations from 500 - 1,900 metres[]

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered position[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required.
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[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[, ]. A famine food[]. The deep-purple coloured ellipsoid seeds are 10-14mm in length[].

An edible oil is obtained from the seed[]. The seed contains around 26% oil[].

The tree produces a highly water-soluble gum. This can be tapped and used in cooking as an emulsifier, stabiliser and viscosifier[].

The bark sap can be made into a refreshing drink[].

Medicinal

The gum obtained from the tree is used medicinally as a laxative, diuretic and tranquilliser[].

The bark is used to treat snake bites, leprosy, syphilis, coughs, bronchitis, rickets and insanity[]. A hot water extract of the dried bark is used as a treatment of jaundice[]. A decoction of the stem bark is used in the treatment of diarrhoea[].
In Sudan the dried stem bark is applied externally for the treatment of wounds[].

The root bark and the fruits are used to treat boils, inflammations, chickenpox, measles, dysentery, syphilis, epilepsy, jaundices, malaria and leprosy[].

A black soap prepared from the powdered then burnt fruit and seed mixture is used to treat dermatosis[].

A decoction of the powdered dried leaves is used for the treatment of Mycobacterium infections and HIV/AIDS patients with chronic cough and bloody stains[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is a good regenerator in open areas, colonizing fallow land[]. It shows promise as a pioneer species for restoring native woodland - we need more information on growth rates[].

Other Uses

The tree produces a highly water-soluble gum, known as 'Karaya Gum'[, ]. It is used in foods and medicinally and also as an adhesive and for glazing pottery[].

A fibre obtained from the inner bark is used for rope making and cloth[, ].

The wood is white and very soft[]. It is used for non timber forest products. It is used for insulation and concealed items in carpentry[].
The wood is unsuitable for fuel wood and charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - a physical dormancy caused by the hard seed coat 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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