Sterculia
Sterculia
Sterculia (pronunciation: stərˈkyo͞olēə) is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is named after the Roman god, Sterculius.
Etymology
The name Sterculia comes from the Latin word "stercus", which means dung. This is in reference to the unpleasant smell of the flowers of this genus.
Description
Sterculia plants are typically trees or shrubs. They are known for their distinctive five-petaled flowers and their fruit, which is a type of capsule containing numerous seeds. The seeds of some species are edible and are used in traditional medicine.
Species
There are about 150 species of Sterculia worldwide, including:
- Sterculia foetida - Also known as the bastard poon tree, Java olive tree, or hazel sterculia.
- Sterculia urens - Known as the ghost tree.
- Sterculia quadrifida - Known as the peanut tree.
- Sterculia tragacantha - Known as the tragacanth sterculia.
Uses
Many species of Sterculia have uses in traditional medicine. For example, the seeds of Sterculia lychnophora are used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat coughs and asthma. The bark of Sterculia urens is used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat skin diseases.
Related Terms
- Malvaceae - The mallow family, which includes Sterculia.
- Genus - A rank in the classification of organisms, above species and below family.
- Traditional medicine - The use of natural plant substances for therapeutic purposes.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sterculia
- Wikipedia's article - Sterculia
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