Sterculia africana

(Lour.) Fiori

African star-chestnut

Malvaceae Edible: Fruit, Seeds, Bark Potential hazards — see below 404 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Sterculia africana is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae (previously the Sterculiaceae, now relegated to a subfamily). This deciduous tree is sometimes referred to by the common names African star-chestnut and mopopaja tree. It is distributed throughout Northeast Africa to Arabia.

Description

A medium to tall tree. It can be 15 m tall. It has a thick trunk. It can be 2.5 m across. The leaves are light green and crowded at the ends of branches. They are 5-15 cm long and 4-13 cm wide. They can be broadly egg shaped or 3-5 lobed. The lobes are pointed and the base indented. The flowers are in sprays at the ends of twigs. They are 1.9 cm across and with 5-6 petal like lobes. They are yellow with red stripes. The flowers are male and female. The fruit have 1-5 follicles or lobes. These are thick, hard, oblong pods. They have a tail like point. They open wide to reveal stinging hairs. There are blue-black seeds inside. These are edible. The seeds are rich in oil.

Edible Uses

The blue-black seeds are edible and can be roasted, eaten raw, or pounded and sieved into flour to cook with vegetables. The bark is also listed as an edible portion.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are roasted and eaten. They can be eaten raw. The seeds are also pounded and sieved and the flour cooked with vegetables.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Resin was traditionally used as a washing agent in Arabia. The hardened resin was mixed with water or spittle and then rubbed over the body. It was also a treatment to treat head lice. It is an important fodder and the wood was used to make fishing platforms.

Known Hazards

There are some irritating hairs upon the fruits.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It often grows on hot, dry areas on rocky hills. In East Africa it grows from sea level to 1,000 m altitude. It can grow in semi desert. It can grow in arid places. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Australia, Botswana, Djibouti, East Africa, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, Namibia, Oman, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds.

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

A strong fibre obtained from the bark is used to make ropes and mats.

Production

Seeds are collected during the dry season.

Notes

Also put in the family Sterculiaceae.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Seeds	4.3	—	—	24.9	—	5.1	13.3	5.8

Synonyms

Sterculia guerichii K. Schum.Sterculia rhynchocarpa sensu KTSSterculia triphaca R.Br. [Illegitimate]Triphaca africana Lour.and others

Also Known As

Chitondo, Geed-jini, Ikuayva, Kautsee, Kereri, M'gosa, Marapeixo, Mfune, Mhozya, Mluze, Mopopoja tree, Moza, Mtumbwi, Muhozya, Mujuria, Muluze, Muusya, Muyamba, Ngoza, Olkarasha, Ourae, Qararu, Qawrenta, Qawreta, Qawureta, Qereri, Rapeixo, Tick tree

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