Sterculia guttata

Botanical Name – Sterculia guttata

Common Name – Hirik (Hindi), Kuker (Marathi), Kukar, Goldaro (Gujrati), Hirikh (Assamese)

Distribution

• Assam, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Gujrat
  
  

Habit

• Large deciduous tree
• Moderate growth
  
  

Habitat

• Semi evergreen and moist deciduous forest near river streams
  
  

Specific properties

• It is a riverine species
  
  

Ecology

• Attract lots of bees
• Birds feed on seeds
• Larval host plant – Tricolour Pied Flat
  
  

Uses

• Seeds are edible, eaten roasted
• Tree is reported as a famine food, seeds eaten by tribes, at time of scarcity
• Juice obtained from bark is ingredient for medicine to cure fever and diarrhoea
• Bark used for making coarse clothing and rope
• Extracts from seeds is effective mosquito larvicide
  
  

Propagation

• Seeds