Tso Kung Tam Outdoor Recreation Centre – Eco-trail

 

Spot 13 –Common Sterculia and Lance-leaved Sterculia

Introduction

Scientific name of Common Sterculia is Sterculia nobilis. When the fruit ripens, it cracks open and the dark brown coloured seeds are exposed. It looks like an eye of phoenix. Therefore, the tree is also called “Phoenix Eye Fruit”. The seed is as large as a chestnut. It also tastes like chestnut. It is a delicious and famous food, and thus always be cultivated. Common Sterculia is rarely seen in the countryside of Hong Kong. On the contrary, its sister species - Lance-leaved Sterculia (Scientific name: Sterculia lanceolata) is very commonly seen. The seeds of Lance-leaved Sterculia are tiny and not edible. But the ripened fruit is beautiful. Fibres extracted from the barks of Lance-leaved Sterculia is used for making burlap, sacks and paper. The leaves are also used as a medicine for traumatic injury. In Tso Kung Tam Outdoor Recreation Centre, only Lance-leaved Sterculia is planted.

Photos

Fruits of Common Sterculia	A ripened fruit of Lance-leaved Sterculia

Information and photos are provided by Ho Koon Nature Education cum Astronomical Centre

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