Sterculia urceolata
Sm.
Malvaceae
Southwellia urceolata (Sm.) Spach
Common Name:
General Information
Sterculia urceolata is a large, deciduous tree that can grow up to 40 metres tall; the bole has buttresses up to 6 metres high.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a growth-stimulating hair shampoo..
Sterculia urceolata 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(2019)[
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
Range
Southeast Asia - Indonesia (Sumatra to Maluku)
Habitat
Not known
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Deciduous Tree |
| Height | 30.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
Seed[
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.
].
An oil is obtained from the seed[
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.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
An oil is obtained from the seed[
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.
].
The leaves are used to make a hair wash that cleans the hair and also promotes hair growth[
2062- Title
- Hair Growth Stimulants activity from Sterculia urceolata JE Smith Ethanol Extract
- Publication
- Research J. Pharm. and Tech 2019; 12(9):4111-4116
- Author
- Mustarichie R., & Wicaksono I.A.
- Website
- http://10.5958/0974-360X.2019.00709.1
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2019
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
]. Research has shown that ethanol extracts of the plant promote hair growth - the most effective was a mixture of 85% water and 15% ethanol extract[
2062- Title
- Hair Growth Stimulants activity from Sterculia urceolata JE Smith Ethanol Extract
- Publication
- Research J. Pharm. and Tech 2019; 12(9):4111-4116
- Author
- Mustarichie R., & Wicaksono I.A.
- Website
- http://10.5958/0974-360X.2019.00709.1
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2019
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
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.
