Broad-leaved kepuh tree
Sterculia macrophylla
Family: Malvaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 40 m tall. The trunk can be 1.5 m across. It can have buttresses 3m x 3m. They are spreading and sharp. The bark is silver-grey. The leaves are simple and have lobes like fingers on a hand. The leaves are broadly oval with 3-5 lobes, and the leaves are 12-40 cm long by 10-35 cm wide. The base is deeply heart shaped. The flowers are erect in groups in the axils of leaves or near the ends of branches. The flowers are bell shaped with a greenish-yellow tube. The fruit are a star shaped pod with 3-5 sections. It is 3-8 cm long. It is velvety brown and bright red inside. It splits open. The seeds are narrowly oval and 1-2.3 cm long. They are whitish-black.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in swamp forest. It grows up to 900 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Thailand
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit, seeds
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds.
In Thailand it flowers and fruits between July to March.
Its other names
Local names
Po phat bok, Pohon kepuh labi