Sterculia Foetida
Also known as: Wild Indian Almond, Java Olive, Poon Tree, Hazel Sterculia,
Jungli Badam (Bengal), Peon
Here is an attractive, umbrella-shaped, spreading deciduous tree that can grow up to 40 meters tall, but is usually smaller. The straight, cylindrical bole is up to 90cm in diameter. Its distribution is from northern Luzon to Palawan and Mindanao, in most islands and provinces along the seashore and in semi-open forests at low and medium altitudes. Also reported in India to tropical east Africa through Malaya to northeastern Australia.
A multi-purpose tree, it is often harvested from the wild, providing a popular food, as well as medicine and a range of materials for local use. The timber is easy to cut, but not durable. It is used locally to make items like canoes and hut doors. Fibres extracted from the bark can be processed into rope. The leaves can be used as fodder. The plant is often cultivated as an ornamental in many parts of the tropics, even though its flowers are malodorous. Also used as a bonsai tree that makes for a interesting potted plant.
This tree has many great features, beautiful foliage, smooth bark, and green/purple flowers. The large green pods will turn bright red with age and then split open to expose the olive looking seeds that will also turn color making for an ever changing show.
The large seeds are surrounded by a tough, parchment-like skin. The elliptic seeds are about 25mm long and 12mm in diameter at the center. The seeds can be eaten raw, roasted or fried. They are oily and have a pleasant, cocoa-like flavor, but are not bitter. When roasted, it tastes like peanuts. If eaten in too large a quantity, however, it can have a laxative to purgative effect. An edible non-drying oil is obtained from the seed. A bland, sweet-tasting, yellow oil with rather a high melting point. It has similar properties to, and can be used in the same way as, olive oil.
The rootstock of young plants can be eaten raw, in which it has a rich source of starch.
This species should be planted in fertile, well draining soil that is kept moist. Apply mulch near the base to help retain soil moisture. Specimens require large amounts of space to grow properly and make great shade trees. USDA Zone: 10 30° to 40°F (-1° to +4.5°C)
This offer is for 5 large seeds.
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*DISCLAIMER*
NO RETURNS/REFUNDS/REPLACEMENTS ON SEEDS
Most specialty seeds we offer are NOT fast to germinate.
Many take several weeks, months, and some even up towards a year depending on dormancy, region, season etc. It is important that the buyer understands that seeds are perishable products and seed germination can be adversely affected by such factors as mold/fungus, bugs, temperature, moisture content, light intensity, dormancy, care, contamination of planting media among many other reasons. These factors are totally out of The Plant Attraction's control and are the buyer's responsibility and risk. Germination recommendations are sent with each order and the buyer is free to research and use their own methods. Floating seeds do not always indicate that the seed is not viable. Many times it is a misconception because the seed does not have the density to sink in water. Accordingly, The Plant Attraction does not guarantee seeds to perform properly regardless of conditions or buyer's methods or mistakes. Since 2006 we have been doing our best to hand sort and provide the freshest, cleanest harvest that is free of defects and bugs.