Kavalam
Sterculia balanghas

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A deciduous tree. It grows 15 m tall. The bark is light brown. The leaves are 12-22 cm long by 7-12 cm wide. They are in rings. The young leaves have golden brown star shaped hairs. The leaf stalks are 4 cm long and swollen at the ends. The flowers are 1.5 cm wide. They are pink or green. They hang in slender clusters. The fruit are 5-9 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. They are pale yellow but turn orange.

Also put in the family Sterculiaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical Asia. In Thailand it grows between 10-1,600 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand

How it is used for food

The seeds are roasted and eaten.

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

In Thailand it flowers January to March and fruits February to June.

Its other names

Local names

Chaa saam kaeo, Mak lin ang, Nawa, Po khanun

Synonyms

Balanghas telabo Raf.; Southwellia angustifolia Wight; Southwellia balanghas Spach;