Pale sterculia
Firmiana fulgens

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It often loses its leaves. The leaves are 10 cm long and have 3 lobes. They have hairs on both surfaces. The leaf stalk is 8-9 cm long. The flowers appear before the leaves. The flowers are bright yellow. The fruit is a many seeded dry fruit which opens down one side. The fruit has 5 sections. They are narrowly oval and 7-9 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. There is one seed in each section. The seeds are oval and 1 cm long by 6-8 mm wide.

Also put in the family Sterculiaceae.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. In Sikkim it grows between 500-900 m above sea level. It grows in sunny locations and in limestone areas.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Central America, China, Costa Rica, Himalayas, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten. The root tubers are eaten. The root of the young tree is used.

Edible parts

Seeds, roots, tubers

How it is grown

It can be grown by seeds or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Kaphal, Khardala, Labshi, Pohon iwil-iwil

Synonyms

Clompanus fulgens Kuntze; Erythropsis fulgens (Mast.) Ridl.; Erythropsis pallens (Wall. ex King) Ridl.; Firmiana pallens (Wall. ex King) Stearn; Sterculia pallens Wall.; and others