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Sterculia africana

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Author: Adriano Fiori, 1911
Family:  STERCULIACEAE*
Origin:  Angola, Botswana, Caprivi Strip, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Oman, Socotra, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Soil:  Rocks - Mix
Water:  Medium
Sun:  Maximum
Thickness:  80-100 Centimetres
Height:  4-18 Meters
Flower:  Greenish Yellow / Red
Propagate:  Seeds/Cuttings
Names:  African Star Chestnut, Mopopaja Tree, Bastard Baobab
Synonyms:  Triphaca africana, Joćo de Loureiro, 1790.
Sterculia triphaca
R. Br. 1844.
Sterculia guerichii
K. Schum. 1894.
Sterculia tomentosa
sensu Sim.
Clompanus africana, Kuntze.
Clompanus arabica,
Kuntze.
Sterculia abyssinica,
R.Br.
Sterculia arabica,
T.Anderson.
Sterculia ipomoeifolia,
Garcke.

This  member of the Sterculiaceae family was given this name by Adriano Fiori in 1911. It is found from Socotra down through tropical Africa to Namibia. It grows on rocks or on gravel plains with some water and lots of water. The stem can grow to 80 or even 100 centimetres in diameter, the tree raise from four to twelve or even 18 meters high. The flowers are greenish yellow with red stripes.  

The genera name after the Latin god; Sterculius. The species name as it originates from Africa.

*)Accordantly to the latest taxonomic system; APG IV 2016, Sterculiaceae is now part of the Malvaceae.


The flowers by Ton Rulkens, Tropical.theferns.info.