Sterculia schumanniana
Family: Malvaceae
What it is like
A medium sized tree up to 20 m high. The trunk is often crooked and the tree slender. The trunk can be 45 cm across. It has buttresses. The crown of the tree is often broad. The branches are slender, light brown and often with grooves. The leaves are alternate, simple and at the ends of branches. They are oblong and have a tail. The blade can be 20 cm long by 8 cm wide. There are 6-7 pairs of side veins. The leaf stalk is 2.5 cm long and and thicker at both ends. The flowers are bell shaped. Plants can have male, female or both sex flowers. These hang in loose stalked branches. These can be in the axils of leaves but are mostly on buds from stems and main branches. The flowers are dull red. The fruit are often in clusters. They have 3-5 velvety sacs. The fruit is bright orange-red at maturity. The seeds inside are black. They are 1.8 cm long by 1 cm wide.
The bark is used for string for string bags. Also put in the family Sterculiaceae.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It occurs in the lowlands.
Countries/locations it is found in
Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands
How it is used for food
The nut-like seeds are eaten cooked.
Edible parts
Nuts, seeds
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds.
Its other names
Local names
Alame