Malvaceae FAMILY

Sterculia urens

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

The fruits are armed with stiff, stinging hairs that cause intolerable itching, if touched or handled; oil removes the hairs, and the itching, effectively[ 1503 Title Indian Medicinal Planta Publication Author Kirkitar K.R.; Basu B.D. & Indian Civil Service Publisher Sudhindra Nath Basu, BahadurGanj; India Year 1918 ISBN Description ].

Botanical Description

Sterculia urens is a deciduous tree growing from 9 - 15 metres tall[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. The tree usually has a clean, crooked, short bole that can be up to 2 metres in diameter[ 303 Title World Agroforesty Centre Publication Author Website http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc. ]. Sterculia urens is the main source of 'Karaya Gum', used commercially in foods, as a medicine and for industrial purposes. The gum is harvested from the wild in large quantities[ 2020 Title Trade in Indian Medicinal Plants Publication Ethnobotany of India Vol 5., 321-345, 2018 Author D.K.Ved, S.Noorunnisa Begum, & K.Ravi Kumar Publisher Apple Academic Press; Oakville, Canada Year 2018 ISBN 978-1-77188-600-0 Description ], and the tree is also harvested for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. The tree is sometimes cultivated in India and Sri Lanka for medicinal and edible use of the gum; and is also grown as an ornamental[ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeE. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.

HabitatDry rocky hills in Central and northern India, at elevations between 300 - 750 metres[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. Dry, tropical deciduous forests, often associated with Boswellia serrata, on hilltops, exposed ridges, rocky crevices, eroded slopes and similar habitats[ 303 Title World Agroforesty Centre Publication Author Website http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc. ].