Sterculia

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).

Description

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. The tropical species are evergreen trees or shrubs, and the temperate species deciduous.

Uses

Several species of the genus are grown for their edible seeds or for the timber of their wood. Sterculia foetida is the source of a dietary fibre known as sterculia gum or karaya gum. Sterculia urens is also a source of karaya gum. Sterculia villosa is used in traditional medicine in Nepal.

Species

There are about 150-300 species, including:

• Sterculia foetida
• Sterculia urens
• Sterculia villosa

References

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External links

• Sterculia at the Missouri Botanical Garden

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