Sterculia Villosa Seeds

Listing ID #6088714

Sterculia villosa a small to moderate-sized, spreading tree, up to 1.6m in girth in favourable localities, found in the deciduous forests throught the greater part of India, ascending up to an altitude of 1000m and in the Andamans; it is rare in arid regions.  Bark grey, somewhat warty, light red and fibrous inside; leaves crowede at the ends of branches, palmately-lobed, lobes 5-7, 30-45cm diam.; flowers pale yellow, in panicles; follicles 2.5, spreading, oblong, 3.5-7.5 cm. Long, scarlet, coriaceous; seeds oblong, black, shining.The tree prefers a light, sandy soil, and is a strong light-demander.  The seeds germinate at the beginning of the rains, soon after falling.  They are somewhat perishable and the rate of fertility is not high, but in suitable localities, natural regeneration is adequate.  Experimental trials with transplanting the seedlings and stumpplanting, respectively, gave 66 and 85 percent success.  The tree is occasionally cultivated in gardens.