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Sterculia oblongata R. Br.

Family Name:	Malvaceae
Synonyms:	Sterculia forbesii, Sterculia spectabilis, Sterculia kunstleri, Sterculia urceolata
Common Name:	Sterculia, Kalumpang

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Suitable for Roadsides

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Small (6m-15m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Conical
Maximum Height	12 m
Tree or Palm – Trunk Diameter	0

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Malay Peninsula, Sumatra
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Description and Ethnobotany

Others - Plant Morphology	Growth Form: Small evergreen tree with conical crown. Habitat: Occurs in open regions of tropical primary and secondary forests at low to medium altitudes. Trunk: Grey bark is smooth. Has linear lenticels (corky structures that allow oxygen to pass into the stem). Foliage: Leaves elliptic or oblong with entire leaf margin. Flowers: This species is monoecious, having male and female flowers on the same tree. Flowers are shaped like tea cups (urceolate) or bells (campanulate). The inflorescence is a panicle. Fruits: Fruits are dry, dehiscent fruits known as capsules. They are hollow, hairy and shaped like small mangoes (4 - 8 cm long, 3.5 cm wide). The yellow fruits gradually become red-orange. Fruits have 4 - 6 black, ellipsoid seeds (1 - 2.5 cm long). Landscaping: The bright red-orange fruits give this species an interesting look. It is can be planted in parks or function as a shade tree or roadside tree. Propagation: Propagate by seed or stem cuttings. Etymology: The genus "Sterculia" is named after the Roman god Sterculius, the god of manure. The reference is to the foul-smelling flowers of some species in this genus. The species epithet "oblongata" is a reference to the oblong leaves and fruits.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Edible Plant Parts : Edible Seeds Others: Food: Seeds are edible and said to taste like peas. They are consumed raw or roasted. Other: Fibres extracted from the bark are used to make rope, paper, hats, handbags, etc.. The wood can be used to make matchsticks or small pieces of furniture (eg., cabinets).

Others - Plant Morphology

Growth Form: Small evergreen tree with conical crown. Habitat: Occurs in open regions of tropical primary and secondary forests at low to medium altitudes. Trunk: Grey bark is smooth. Has linear lenticels (corky structures that allow oxygen to pass into the stem). Foliage: Leaves elliptic or oblong with entire leaf margin. Flowers: This species is monoecious, having male and female flowers on the same tree. Flowers are shaped like tea cups (urceolate) or bells (campanulate). The inflorescence is a panicle. Fruits: Fruits are dry, dehiscent fruits known as capsules. They are hollow, hairy and shaped like small mangoes (4 - 8 cm long, 3.5 cm wide). The yellow fruits gradually become red-orange. Fruits have 4 - 6 black, ellipsoid seeds (1 - 2.5 cm long). Landscaping: The bright red-orange fruits give this species an interesting look. It is can be planted in parks or function as a shade tree or roadside tree. Propagation: Propagate by seed or stem cuttings. Etymology: The genus "Sterculia" is named after the Roman god Sterculius, the god of manure. The reference is to the foul-smelling flowers of some species in this genus. The species epithet "oblongata" is a reference to the oblong leaves and fruits.

Ethnobotanical Uses

Edible Plant Parts : Edible Seeds
Others: Food: Seeds are edible and said to taste like peas. They are consumed raw or roasted. Other: Fibres extracted from the bark are used to make rope, paper, hats, handbags, etc.. The wood can be used to make matchsticks or small pieces of furniture (eg., cabinets).

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Fruits
Landscape Uses	Suitable for Roadsides, Shade Providing Tree / Palm

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic (Gravity)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Glossy / Shiny

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Oblong)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acute
Foliar Base	Rounded / Obtuse
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Bark Colour(s)	Grey
Mature Bark Texture	Smooth

Root Type

Underground (Tap Root)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious
Flower Colour(s)	Pink, Red, Yellow / Golden

Flower Symmetry	Radial
Individual Flower Shape	Urceolate / Urn-shaped
Inflorescence Type	Panicle
Flowering Period	Once Yearly

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Red
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	1847
Species ID	3140
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.