Bastard poon tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indian-almond
• Java-olive
• Java Olive
• Hazel sterculia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Clompanus foetida
• Sterculia mexicana var. guianensis
• Sterculia polyphylla

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Malvales and the family Malvaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Sterculia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning several distinct tropical and subtropical regions. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found around the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Its range extends across the Western Indian Ocean to include the Comoros. Within Asia, the species is documented in the Indian Subcontinent specifically in Assam, as well as in China Southeast. Finally, its presence is also noted in the Hainan province of China.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Sterculia foetida is characterized by its existence as a perennial species, allowing it to establish a long-term presence within its ecosystem through multiple growing seasons. Throughout its development, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically, typically in response to seasonal changes or dry periods. This lifecycle pattern of being a long-lived perennial with deciduous foliage dictates its rhythmic growth phases and its ability to endure over extended periods in its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sterculia foetida is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree, typically reaching a mean height of 20 m, though it can grow to a maximum height of 30 m. As a self-supporting growth form, it does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it maintains an independent existence rather than acting as a parasite. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its ecological habit, lacking any aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic characteristics such as being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte. Its structural development is defined by its robust, woody nature, supporting its significant height and upright tree habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sterculia foetida is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle without the specialized adaptations found in C4 or CAM plants. In terms of water management and morphological adaptation, the species does not exhibit succulence, meaning it lacks thickened, fleshy tissues specifically designed for significant internal water storage. Additionally, this plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, as it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for its metabolic processes.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sterculia foetida is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily facilitated by insects. This interaction suggests a complex relationship with local fauna to ensure successful fertilization. Once fertilization occurs, the plant produces seeds with a highly consistent mass, recorded at a mean, maximum, and minimum value of 0.705 g. Following seed development, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed through the action of the wind to colonize new areas.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.705 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Sterculia foetida has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include arabinose, galactose, rhamnose, xylose.

arabinose

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

galactose

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

rhamnose

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

xylose

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica