Common Name:

General Information

Sterculia vitiensis is a slender tree that can grow around 8 - 30 metres tall; the straight bole can be up to 120cm in diameter with thin buttresses[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a source of wood. It is sometimes cultivated for its edible seeds in home gardens and open ground in Fiji[].
Sterculia vitiensis is considered common on Viti Levu but information is lacking on the status of populations on Vanua Levu. It is harvested for timber on a small scale but its use and exportation is monitored and managed under Fijian law. The plant is classified as 'Data Deficient' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Pacific - Fiji (Viti Levu, Vanua Levu).

Habitat

Lowland forest, occasionally in secondary forest; at elevations up to 300 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Data Deficient
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	15.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Seed - grilled[]. An excellent flavour[]. The seeds when ripe are eaten grilled, either directly in their shells or separately after being extracted by hand[]. The elongate seeds are around 10 - 20mm long[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The tree is said to yield a useful timber, although it is not common enough to be frequently used[]. The soft wood is sometimes used for making canoes[].

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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