Gwa'u
Sterculia parkinsonii

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A medium sized lowland rainforest tree. It grows 40 m tall. It has large buttresses up to 3 m high and 3 m wide. The leaves are simple and entire. They are broadly oval and 12-40 cm long by 10-35 cm wide. The flowers are in groups in the axils of leaves or towards the ends of branches. The seeds are oblong and 1-2.3 cm long. They are black.

Also put in the family Sterculiaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on Rennell Island around swamps.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Thailand

How it is used for food

Children eat the seeds of the ripe fruit.

They are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Seeds, nuts

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Mangango, Popogo, Popoho

Synonyms

Possibly now a synonym of Sterculia crassiramea Merr.; Sterculia crassiramea Merr.; Sterculia oncinocarpa F. v. Mueller & Forbes; Sterculia parkinsonii F.v. Mueller;