Common Name: Pepetaca

General Information

Sterculia xolocotzii is a semi-deciduous tree that can grow up to 40 metres tall; the bole is up to 90cm in diameter with large, well-developed buttresses 300cm or more high[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood.
Sterculia xolocotzii is restricted to the Uxpanapa region of southern Mexico. Particularly in the last few decades, this region has undergone deforestation that has changed the landscape dramatically. Expansion of the agriculture frontier, cattle ranching, and wood extraction have reduced the plant's range and quality of habitat, as well as caused direct mortality. The population size of Sterculia xolocotzii appears to be small, and is estimated at less than 250 mature individuals. The plant is classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern N. America - southern Mexico (Veracruz, Oaxaca)

Habitat

A canopy tree of lowland rainforest, growing in canyons and along streams; usually at elevations around 120 - 150 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Critically Endangered
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	30.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants take several years from seed before maturing, and are usually at least 15 metres tall beofre producing seed[].
S. xolocotzii is considered deciduous in that all the leaves of one flush typically fall at roughly the same time before the next flush. Nevertheless, the tree does not remain leafless for an extended period, and at times a fair number of mature leaves remain on the tree as a new flush begins[].
Flowering, leaf flush, and the fall of mature leaves of the previous flush are all closely associated annual events that occur in the dry season[].
Fruits take a year or nearly so to mature[]

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is pale yellow flecked with tan, medium textured, straight grained, and of high lustre. It has been used in making veneer, as well as for more general purposes[].

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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