Sterculia

Sterculia
S. foetida
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Malvaceae
Subfamily:	Sterculioideae
Genus:	Sterculia L.[1]
Species
See text.
Synonyms
Ivira Aubl. Mateatia Vell. Triphaca Lour. Xylosterculia Kosterm.[1]

Ripe fruit capsules releasing their smooth seeds, Malaysia

S. setigera, dry capsules and seeds – MHNT

S. pruriens, wood texture – MHNT

Sterculia is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It was previously placed in the now obsolete Sterculiaceae.^[1] Members of the genus are colloquially known as tropical chestnuts. The scientific name is taken from Sterculius of Roman mythology, who was the god of manure; this is in reference to the unpleasant aroma of the flowers of this genus (e.g., Sterculia foetida).

Sterculia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the leaf miner Bucculatrix xenaula, which feeds exclusively on the genus.

Gum karaya is extracted from Sterculia species, and is used as a thickener and emulsifier in foods, as a laxative, and as a denture adhesive.

Selected species

• Sterculia africana – Mopopaja tree
• Sterculia alexandri – Cape sterculia
• Sterculia apetala – Panama tree; manduvi tree
• Sterculia balanghas
• Sterculia cinerea
• Sterculia colorata – Scarlet sterculia
• Sterculia cochinchinensis Pierre 'Trom nam' in Vietnam
• Sterculia foetida – bastard poon tree, hazel sterculia, wild almond tree^[2]
• Sterculia guttata
• Sterculia hypochrea Pierre – 'Trom quat' in Vietnam
• Sterculia khasiana
• Sterculia lanceolata
• Sterculia lychnophora Hance – Malva nut, Marg Jong (Thailand)
• Sterculia monosperma – China chestnut, Seven Sisters' Fruit, Pheng phok
• Sterculia murex – Lowveld chestnut
• Sterculia oblongata
• Sterculia parviflora
• Sterculia paniculata
• Sterculia quadrifida – Gorarbar
• Sterculia quinqueloba – Five-lobed sterculia
• Sterculia rhinopetala – Red sterculia
• Sterculia rogersii – Ulumbu tree
• Sterculia rubiginosa Vent – 'Bai rua long' in Vietnam
• Sterculia scaphigera – Pang da hai, the boat Sterculia seed
• Sterculia schliebenii
• Sterculia tantraensis
• Sterculia tomentosa
• Sterculia thorelii Pierre – 'Bay thua Thorel' in Vietnam
• Sterculia treubii
• Sterculia trichosiphon – Broad-leaved bottle tree
• Sterculia urceolata
• Sterculia urens – Gulu
• Sterculia villosa
• Sterculia zastrowiana

Panama tree, S. apetala

Formerly placed here

Brachychiton acerifolius (A. Cunn. ex G.Don) Macarthur (as S. acerifolia A.Cunn. ex G.Don) Brachychiton australis (Schott & Endl.) A.Terracc. (as S. trichosiphon Benth.) Brachychiton discolor F. Muell. (as S. lurida (C.Moore ex F.Muell.) F.Muell. ex Benth.) Brachychiton garrawayae (F.M.Bailey) Guymer (as S. garrawayae F.M.Bailey) Brachychiton paradoxus Schott & Endl. (as S. ramiflora (R.Br.) Benth.) Brachychiton populneus (Schott & Endl.) R.Br. (as S. diversifolia G.Don) Cola acuminata (P.Beauv.) Schott & Endl. (as S. acuminata P.Beauv.)

Cola heterophylla (P.Beauv.) Schott & Endl. (as S. heterophylla P.Beauv.) Cola nitida (Vent.) Schott & Endl. (as S. nitida Vent.) Firmiana fulgens (Wall. ex Mast.) Corner (as S. fulgens Wall. ex Mast. or S. pallens Wall. ex King) Firmiana simplex (L.) W.Wight (as S. platanifolia L.f.) Hildegardia barteri (Mast.) Kosterm. (as S. barteri Mast.) Hildegardia cubensis (Urb.) Kosterm. (as S. cubensis Urb.) Knema glomerata (Blanco) Merr. (as S. glomerata Blanco) Pterygota alata (Roxb.) R.Br. (as S. alata Roxb.) Scaphium scaphigerum (Wall. ex G.Don) Guibourt & G.Planch. (as S. scaphigera Wall. ex G.Don)[3]

References

1. "Genus: Sterculia L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2003-06-05. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
2. http://www.worldagroforestry.org/Sea/Products/AFDbases/AF/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=98
3. "GRIN Species Records of Sterculia". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-03-03.

• FAO