Sterculia alexandri
Harv.
Cape sterculia, Cape star-chestnut
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(c) Adriaan Grobler, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Adriaan Grobler
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Ellie Goossens, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Ellie Goossens, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Source: WikipediaSterculia alexandri is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It is endemic to South Africa, occurring in the Eastern Cape, and only found in a few localities: the Winterhoek Mountains near Uitenhage, Van Staaden's Mountains near Port Elizabeth and the Kouga Dam at the start of the Baviaanskloof. It is threatened by habitat loss. This is a small tree growing on forest margins, stream banks, in scrub, and the slopes of valleys and ravines.
Description
A small to medium sized tree. It grows about 4.5 m tall. It can be 8 m tall. The stem can be 30 cm across. When it sprawls at an angle it suckers profusely. The trunk is silver-grey. It has white patches and raised dots. The leaves are at the tips of the branches. The leaves spring one point making them look finger like. There are 2-7 stiff leathery leaflets that point upwards. They are oblong and 8-13 cm long by 1.9-2.5 cm wide. The tips have a small thorn like point. The base is narrowed. They are dark green above and paler underneath. New leaves are red. The flowers in sprays are mostly male. In the younger parts of the spray they are bisexual. Flowers hang downwards. They are yellow. The fruit has 1-5 carpels that develop into pod like structures. They are 8 cm long and boat shaped. They split down one side to release 4-8 large seeds. The seeds are edible.
Edible Uses
The large seeds are edible and have a pleasant nutty flavour, eaten especially by children.
Traditional Uses
The seeds are eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
Traditionally the seeds are eaten.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows on sandstone. It grows in forest and scrub on very steep gorges and mountainside.
Where It Grows
Africa, South Africa*, Southern Africa,
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from seed. Seed must be put on top of the soil. It can be grown easily from cuttings.
Other Information
They have a pleasant nutty flavour. They are eaten especially by children.
Notes
Also put in the family Sterculiaceae.
Nutrition
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seeds | 8 | 2172 | 520 | 16.6 | — | — | 2.5 | 8.5 |
