Sterculia
Genus of flowering plants
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.[3] 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]
| Sterculia | |
|---|---|
| |
| S. foetida | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Subfamily: | Sterculioideae |
| Genus: | Sterculia L.[1] |
| Type species | |
| Sterculia foetida L.[2] | |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
19 synonyms
| |
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Distribution
Taxonomy
Species
As of January 2026[update], Plants of the World Online accepts the following 183 species:[1]
- Sterculia abbreviata E.L.Taylor ex Mondragón
- Sterculia aberrans Tardieu
- Sterculia acuminatissima Merr.
- Sterculia aerisperma Cuatrec.
- Sterculia africana (Lour.) Fiori
- Sterculia albidiflora Ducke
- Sterculia alexandri Harv.
- Sterculia allenii E.L.Taylor ex Al.Rodr. & D.Santam.
- Sterculia amazonica E.L.Taylor ex Mondragón
- Sterculia ampla Baker f.
- Sterculia apeibophylla Ducke
- Sterculia apetala (Jacq.) H.Karst.
- Sterculia appendiculata K.Schum.
- Sterculia backeri Tantra
- Sterculia balanghas L.
- Sterculia bammleri K.Schum.
- Sterculia blumei G.Don
- Sterculia bolavenensis Tagane & Soulad.
- Sterculia bracteata Gagnep.
- Sterculia brevissima H.H.Hsue ex Y.Tang, M.G.Gilbert & Dorr
- Sterculia campaniflora Ridl.
- Sterculia caribaea R.Br.
- Sterculia carrii Tantra
- Sterculia ceramica R.Br.
- Sterculia chapelieri Baill.
- Sterculia cheekii Dorr
- Sterculia chlamydothyrsa Mildbr.
- Sterculia chrysodasys Miq.
- Sterculia cinerea A.Rich.
- Sterculia cochinchinensis Pierre
- Sterculia cognata Prain
- Sterculia colombiana Sprague
- Sterculia comorensis Baill.
- Sterculia comosa Wall.
- Sterculia conwentzii K.Schum.
- Sterculia cordata Blume
- Sterculia corrugata Little
- Sterculia costaricana Pittier
- Sterculia crassinervia Miq.
- Sterculia cuneifolia Miq.
- Sterculia curiosa (Vell.) Taroda
- Sterculia cuspidata R.Br.
- Sterculia dactylocarpa Warb.
- Sterculia darbyshirei Tantra
- Sterculia dasyphylla A.C.Sm.
- Sterculia dawei Sprague
- Sterculia duckei E.L.Taylor ex J.A.C.Silva & M.F.Silva
- Sterculia edelfeltii F.Muell.
- Sterculia ellipticifolia Fosberg
- Sterculia elmeri Merr.
- Sterculia euosma W.W.Sm.
- Sterculia excelsa Mart.
- Sterculia fanaiho Setch.
- Sterculia foetida L.
- Sterculia forsteri Seem.
- Sterculia frondosa Rich.
- Sterculia gengmaensis H.H.Hsue ex Y.Tang, M.G.Gilbert & Dorr
- Sterculia gilva Miq.
- Sterculia glauca A.H.Gentry
- Sterculia gracilipes Pierre
- Sterculia grandifolia R.Br.
- Sterculia guangxiensis S.J.Xu & P.T.Li
- Sterculia guapayensis Cuatrec.
- Sterculia guianensis Sandwith
- Sterculia guttata Roxb.
- Sterculia hainanensis Merr. & Chun
- Sterculia harmandii Pierre
- Sterculia henryi Hemsl.
- Sterculia hewittii Ridl.
- Sterculia holtzei F.Muell.
- Sterculia hymenocalyx K.Schum.
- Sterculia hypochroa Pierre
- Sterculia hyposticta Miq.
- Sterculia impressinervis H.H.Hsue
- Sterculia insularis R.Br.
- Sterculia kayae P.E.Berry
- Sterculia khasiana Debb. ex Biswas
- Sterculia kingii Prain
- Sterculia kingtungensis H.H.Hsue ex Y.Tang, M.G.Gilbert & Dorr
- Sterculia konchurangensis C.N.Kieu, T.D.Binh & B.H.Quang
- Sterculia kostermansiana Tantra
- Sterculia lancaviensis Ridl.
- Sterculia lanceifolia Roxb.
- Sterculia lanceolata Cav.
- Sterculia lastoursvillensis M.Bodard & Pellegr.
- Sterculia laxiflora Rusby
- Sterculia lepidotostellata Mildbr.
- Sterculia linguifolia Mast.
- Sterculia lissophylla Pierre
- Sterculia longifolia Vent.
- Sterculia longipetiolata Merr.
- Sterculia macrophylla Vent.
- Sterculia macrostemon Tantra
- Sterculia madagascariensis R.Br.
- Sterculia maoana Doweld
- Sterculia mastersii Pierre
- Sterculia megistophylla Ridl.
- Sterculia membranacea Merr.
- Sterculia mexicana R.Br.
- Sterculia mhosya Engl.
- Sterculia micrantha Chun & H.H.Hsue
- Sterculia mindorensis Tantra
- Sterculia monosperma Vent.
- Sterculia monticola Mildbr.
- Sterculia morobeensis Tantra
- Sterculia multiovula E.L.Taylor ex Mondragón
- Sterculia murex Hemsl.
- Sterculia oblonga Mast.
- Sterculia oblongata R.Br.
- Sterculia ornatisepala E.L.Taylor ex D.Santam. & Al.Rodr.
- Sterculia palauensis Kaneh.
- Sterculia papuana Tantra
- Sterculia parkinsonii F.Muell.
- Sterculia parviflora Roxb. ex G.Don
- Sterculia parvifolia R.Br.
- Sterculia peekelii Mildbr.
- Sterculia pendula Ducke
- Sterculia perryae Kosterm.
- Sterculia peruviana (D.R.Simpson) E.L.Taylor ex Brako & Zarucchi
- Sterculia petenensis E.L.Taylor ex D.Santam. & Al.Rodr.
- Sterculia pexa Pierre
- Sterculia pinbienensis H.T.Tsai & P.I.Mao
- Sterculia pojoira Cuatrec.
- Sterculia ponapensis Kaneh.
- Sterculia principis Gagnep.
- Sterculia pruriens (Aubl.) K.Schum.
- Sterculia pseudopeltata Mildbr.
- Sterculia quadrifida R.Br.
- Sterculia quinqueloba (Garcke) K.Schum.
- Sterculia radicans Gagnep.
- Sterculia recordiana Standl.
- Sterculia rhinopetala K.Schum.
- Sterculia rhoidifolia Stapf ex Ridl.
- Sterculia rhynchocarpa K.Schum.
- Sterculia rhynchophylla K.Schum.
- Sterculia rigidifolia Ducke
- Sterculia ripicola Mildbr.
- Sterculia rogersii N.E.Br.
- Sterculia rubiginosa Vent.
- Sterculia rugosa R.Br.
- Sterculia sangirensis Warb.
- Sterculia scandens Hemsl.
- Sterculia schlechteri Mildbr.
- Sterculia schliebenii Mildbr.
- Sterculia scortechinii King
- Sterculia setigera Delile
- Sterculia shillinglawii F.Muell.
- Sterculia simaoensis Y.Y.Qian
- Sterculia spangleri R.Br.
- Sterculia spatulata Warb.
- Sterculia speciosa K.Schum.
- Sterculia stapfiana K.Schum.
- Sterculia stenocarpa H.J.P.Winkl.
- Sterculia steyermarkii E.L.Taylor ex Mondragón
- Sterculia stigmarota Pierre
- Sterculia stipulata Korth.
- Sterculia stipulifera Ducke
- Sterculia striata A.St.-Hil. & Naudin
- Sterculia striatiflora Mast.
- Sterculia subnobilis H.H.Hsue
- Sterculia subpeltata Blume
- Sterculia subracemosa Chun & H.H.Hsue
- Sterculia subviolacea K.Schum.
- Sterculia tannaensis Guillaumin
- Sterculia tantraensis Morat
- Sterculia tavia Baill.
- Sterculia tessmannii Mildbr.
- Sterculia thorelii Pierre
- Sterculia tonkinensis Aug.DC.
- Sterculia tragacantha Lindl.
- Sterculia tragacanthoides Engl.
- Sterculia urceolata Sm.
- Sterculia urens Roxb.
- Sterculia urophylla Merr.
- Sterculia venezuelensis Pittier
- Sterculia versicolor Wall.
- Sterculia villifera Steud.
- Sterculia villosa Roxb. ex Sm.
- Sterculia vitiensis Seem.
- Sterculia xolocotzii T.Wendt & E.L.Taylor
- Sterculia yatesii Merr.
- Sterculia yuanjiangensis H.H.Hsue & S.J.Xu
- Sterculia zeylanica Kosterm.
Fossil record
A 27-million-year-old †Sterculia labrusca leaf fossil is described from the Evros region in Western Thrace, Greece.[5]
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.[6] However, the oil contains cyclopropene fatty acids which could be carcinogenic or co-carcinogenic.[7][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]
