Cape sterculia, Cape star-chestnut
Sterculia alexandri

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

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.

Also put in the family Sterculiaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on sandstone. It grows in forest and scrub on very steep gorges and mountainside.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, South Africa (country/location of origin), Southern Africa

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten.

They have a pleasant nutty flavour. They are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. Seed must be put on top of the soil. It can be grown easily from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Clompanus alexandri Kuntze;