Woolly pingpo
Sterculia pexa

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A deciduous tree. It grows 5-10 m high. The young branches are chalky white. The leaves are compound. They have leaflets arranged like fingers on a hand. There are 7-9 leaflets. They are 9-23 cm long by 4-8 cm wide. The flowers are greenish-white. The fruit are follicles. These are 4-9 cm long by 3-4 cm wide. The outside is woody. The seeds are oblong and 1.5 cm long by 1 cm wide. They are shiny black.

Also put in the family Sterculiaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in open deciduous forest or dry evergreen forest. In Thailand it grows between 100-900 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Indochina, Laos, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten after boiling. They are used in stir fries.

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

In Thailand it flowers from September to December and fruits January to March.

Its other names

Local names

Jia ma shu, Trom hoe

Synonyms

Sterculia pexa var. yunnanensis (Hu) H. H. Hsue; Sterculia yunnanensis Hu;