Sterculia

Sterculia
S. foetida
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Subfamily: Sterculioideae
Genus: Sterculia
L.
Type species
Sterculia foetida
L.
Species

See text

Synonyms
19 synonyms
  • Astrodendrum Dennst.
  • Balanghas Raf.
  • Cavalam Adans.
  • Cavallium Schott
  • Chichaea C.Presl
  • Clompanus Raf.
  • Culhamia Forssk.
  • Delabechea Lindl.
  • Eribroma Pierre
  • Ivira Aubl.
  • Kavalama Raf.
  • Mateatia Vell.
  • Orsopea Raf.
  • Pompila Noronha
  • Southwellia Salisb.
  • Theodoria Neck.
  • Triphaca Lour.
  • Triplobus Raf.
  • Xylosterculia Kosterm.
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 about 180 species of flowering plants in the hibiscus family Malvaceae, subfamily Sterculioideae. It was formerly placed in the now obsolete family Sterculiaceae. Members of the genus are colloquially known as tropical chestnuts. Sterculia may be monoecious or dioecious, and its flowers unisexual or bisexual.[not verified in body]

Distribution

This genus is pan-tropical, with species occurring in tropical and subtropical parts of Africa, Asia, the Indo-Pacific region and the Americas.

Taxonomy

Species

As of January 2026, Plants of the World Online accepts the following 183 species:

Panama tree, S. apetala

Fossil record

A 27-million-year-old †Sterculia labrusca leaf fossil is described from the Evros region in Western Thrace, Greece.

Etymology

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).[citation needed]

Ecology

Sterculia species are food plants for the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the leaf miner Bucculatrix xenaula, which feeds exclusively on this genus.[citation needed]

Toxicity and uses

The pods, particularly those of S. foetida, contain seeds reported to be edible, with a taste similar to cocoa. However, the oil contains cyclopropene fatty acids which could be carcinogenic or co-carcinogenic.[failed verification]

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. In India, this is sourced from: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madras, Madhya Pradesh and Chhota Nagpur.[citation needed]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Sterculia L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  2. ↑ "Sterculia L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1007 (1753)". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  3. ↑ Wilkie, Peter; Clark, Alexandra; Pennington, R. Toby; Cheek, Martin; Bayer, Clemens; Wilcock, Chris C. (2006). "Phylogenetic Relationships within the Subfamily Sterculioideae (Malvaceae/Sterculiaceae-Sterculieae) Using the Chloroplast Gene NDHF". Systematic Botany. 31: 160–170. doi:10.1600/036364406775971714.
  4. ↑ "Sterculia L." World Flora Online. World Flora Online Consortium. 2026. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  5. ↑ Velitzelos, Dimitrios; Bouchal, Johannes M.; Denk, Thomas (2014). "Review of the Cenozoic floras and vegetation of Greece". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 204: 56–117. doi:10.1016/J.REVPALBO.2014.02.006.
  6. ↑ The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants. United States Department of the Army. New York: Skyhorse Publishing. 2009. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-60239-692-0. OCLC 277203364.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. ↑ L. O. Hanus, P. Goldshlag, V. M. Dembitsky (2008). "Identification Of Cyclopropyl Fatty Acids In Walnut (Juglans Regia L.) Oil." Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. 2008, 152(1):41–45.