Sterculia ceramica
R. Brown
Lui kepuh tree
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) 李成華, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by 李成華
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Chen Shu, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Chen Shu
iNaturalist· cc-by
(c) Forest Botial-Jarvis, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Forest Botial-Jarvis
Description
A small evergreen tree. It grows 5-18 m tall. The trunk can be 40 cm across. The leaves are simple and shiny. They are broadly oval and heart shaped at the base. They are 3-17 cm long by 3-10 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 2-5 cm long. The groups of flowers are at the ends of twigs. They are softly hairy and 5-8 cm long. There are 1-3 dry fruit with seeds. They are on long stalks 3-9 cm long. They are dark red and 4-5 cm long by 2.5-3.5 cm wide. The seeds are 2-3 cm long.
Edible Uses
Although we have seen no specific information for this species, the large seeds of many species in this genus are used for food. Usually cooked, they are rich in oil and have a flavour described by some as like peanuts.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows near the beach and from sea level to 100 m above sea level. It can be on old coral cliffs. In Fairchild Botanical Garden.
Where It Grows
Asia, China, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, North America, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, USA,
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings.
Propagation
A physical dormancy caused by the hard seed coat of the mature seeds of many species in this genus can be overcome by scarifying the seed. This is carried out by cutting away or abrading some of the seed coat to allow the ingress of water, though great care must be taken not to damage the embryo. The aril surrounding the seed should also be removed - this is easiest when it has been softened through soaking in water. The seeds germinate optimally at temperatures between 20 - 30°c. They can be sown in a nursery seedbed or in containers. A germination rate of about 95%, occurring within about 2 weeks can be expected if the seed has been properly treated.
Other Uses
The inner bark is used for making rope. We have no specific description for the wood of this species, but the following is a general description of the wood of Sterculia species in the Phillipines:- The fresh wood is creamy white or very light gray or brown, but almost invariably staining to a silvery gray or a light brown; the sapwood is scarcely if at all distinguishable from the heartwood. The texture is coarse, spongy; the grain straight. The wood is soft to very soft; light to very light in weight; The durability is very poor; the wood being frequently attacked by beetles, though the heartwood, if seasoned rapidly and thoroughly, is somewhat better than the sapwood. Except for staining, the wood seasons well; it is very easy to work. Of low quality, it is used for cheap and temporary construction, box lumber, etc.; temporary mining timbers. It has been recommended for trial as match wood.
Notes
Also put in the family Sterculiaceae.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Lanyu, Pohon kepuh lui, Tai wan ping po
References (3)
- Flora of Taiwan Vol. 3:770
- Kuo, W. H. J., (Ed.) Taiwan's Ethnobotanical Database (1900-2000), http://tk.agron.ntu.edu.tw/ethnobot/DB1.htm
- Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 520
