Sterculia aberrans
Tardieu
Sang curoc
No photos yet for Sterculia aberrans
Sign in to contribute a photoDescription
A tree. It grows 12-18 m high. The trunk is 18-30 cm across. The trunk is straight and branches high up. The fruit has 5 follicles. These are star shaped. They are 8-10 cm long by 4-6 cm across. The seed are black.
Edible Uses
The seeds are eaten.
Traditional Uses
The seed are eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Known Hazards
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. 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.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in secondary tropical forest. It grows on wet places along streams. It occurs below 400 m altitude.
Where It Grows
Asia, Indochina, SE Asia, Vietnam*,
Cultivation
Plants are grown by seeds.
Notes
There are about 60 Sterculia species. They grow in the tropics. Also put in the family Sterculiaceae. An unresolved name in The Plant List.
References (2)
- Forest Inventory and Planning Institute, 1996, Vietnam Forest Trees. Agriculture Publishing House p 700
- Kew Plants of the World Online
