| Etymology | Genus | After the Roman god of fertilisation, Sterculius |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Foul smelling | |
| Family | Malvaceae | |
| Synonyms | - | |
| Common Names | Great Sterculia, Java Olive, Kelupang, Indian Almond, Kepoh | |
| Status | Exotic: Cultivated Only | |
| Form | Tree | |
| Native Distribution | East Africa, Southeast Asia, Queensland, and the Pacific Islands | |
Diagnostics:
Sterculia foetida is a common cultivated tree with pagoda-like branching. The leaves are palmately compound and have long petioles. It resembles Ceiba pentandra in its form and leaves.
Interesting Facts:
The Giant Sterculia grows naturally on coastal rocky and sandy shores (Corner, 1997). It can grow up to 30m tall and is a deciduous species, though this is not pronounced in Singapore (Corner, 1997).
Form of the Giant Sterculia planted in Punggol.
Leaves are palmately compound.
Its primary branching radiates from points like a pagoda.
Cluster of ripe fruits.
The ripe fruits splitting open to reveal the seeds.
A look at how long the petioles are.
References
Corner EJH. (1997) Wayside Trees of Malaya. Volume 2. 4th edition. The Malaysian Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur. 297 pp.Author: Jake
Posted: 2013-07-25 / Modified: 2017-12-25