Malaboho, Malabuho
Sterculia oblongata

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It grows 12 m tall. The trunk is 70 cm across. The leaves are smooth, oblong and with a pointed tip. They are rounded or heart shaped at the base. The flowers are hairy and borne in large numbers in narrow loose irregular flower arrangements in the axils of the upper leaves. The fruit are red, inflated and hairy and with a thick leathery covering. They contain 4 to 6 seeds.

Also put in the family Sterculiaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They are common and widely distributed throughout the Philippines growing in secondary and open forests at low and medium altitudes.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indonesia, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The kernels of the seeds are eaten raw or cooked.

Edible parts

Seeds, root, nuts

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Bakau, Banilad

Synonyms

Clompanus oblongata Kuntze;