Sterculia foetida L.
| Kannada Name : | - |
| Common Name : | Bastard poon tree, Java olive tree |
| Family Name : | Malvaceae |
| Scientific Name : | Sterculia foetida |
| Species Type : | Exotic |
| Phenology : | Deciduous |
| Conservation Status : | Not known |
| Flowering Period : | February - August |
| Fruiting Period : | February - August |
| Origin : | South Africa |
Uses
The bark is aperient, diaphoretic and diuretic. It is used in the treatment of dropsy and rheumatism. The leaves are aperient.The fruit is astringent and mucilaginous. It is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea.
Description
Deciduous trees, to 25 m high, bole buttressed; bark grey, smooth, irregularly flaking off in thin scales; blaze reddish-yellow; branches horizontal, whorled. Leaves palmately compound, alternate, clustered at the end of branchlets; leaflets 3-9, elliptic, elliptic-lanceolate or elliptic oblanceolate, glabrous, coriaceous, base cuneate, apex acuminate, margin entire. Inflorescence a terminal or axillary raceme. Flowers unisexual or polygamous, dull-orange red, foetid smell. Fruit an aggregate of follicle of 1-5, scarlet, boat shaped, 5-lobed, woody, glabrous; seeds black, numerous, ellipsoid, smooth, with a small yellow aril.
