Sterculia is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It was previously placed in the now obsolete Sterculiaceae. 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 â€" Mopopaja tree
- Sterculia alexandri â€" Cape sterculia
- Sterculia apetala â€" Panama tree; manduvi tree
- Sterculia balanghas
- Sterculia cinerea
- Sterculia colorata â€" Scarlet sterculia
- Sterculia cochinchinensis Pierre 'Trom nam' in Vietnam
- Sterculia foetida â€" bastard poon tree, hazel sterculia, wild almond tree
- Sterculia guttata
- Sterculia hypochrea Pierre â€" 'Trom quat' in Vietnam
- Sterculia khasiana
- Sterculia lanceolata
- Sterculia lychnophora Hance â€" Malva nut, Marg Jong (Thailand)
- Sterculia monosperma â€" China chestnut, Seven Sisters' Fruit, Pheng phok
- Sterculia murex â€" Lowveld chestnut
- Sterculia oblongata
- Sterculia parviflora
- Sterculia paniculata
- Sterculia quadrifida â€" Gorarbar
- Sterculia quinqueloba â€" Five-lobed sterculia
- Sterculia rhinopetala â€" Red sterculia
- Sterculia rogersii â€" Ulumbu tree
- Sterculia rubiginosa Vent â€" 'Bai rua long' in Vietnam
- Sterculia scaphigera â€" Pang da hai, the boat Sterculia seed
- Sterculia schliebenii
- Sterculia tantraensis
- Sterculia tomentosa
- Sterculia thorelii Pierre â€" 'Bay thua Thorel' in Vietnam
- Sterculia treubii
- Sterculia trichosiphon â€" Broad-leaved bottle tree
- Sterculia urceolata
- Sterculia urens â€" Gulu
- Sterculia villosa
- Sterculia zastrowiana
Formerly placed here
References
FAO