Sterculia apetala

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Sterculia apetala, the Panama tree, is a tall flowering tree in the mallow family (Malvaceae). It grows from Florida and southern Mexico through Central America and northern South America, and has been introduced to Caribbean islands. It is the national tree of Panama.

Description
It is a perennial, deciduous tree with straight trunks and large buttresses at the base. It can reach 20–40 meters in height. Leaves are alternate and palmate with five lobes, clustered at the ends of branches, and about 15–50 cm long including the petiole.

Flowers and fruit
Flowers are purple and yellow, with five sepals but no petals. They are unisexual, meaning male and female flowers are on separate trees, and are about 2.5–3.5 cm across. The fruit is a cluster of up to five pods on stalks up to 30 cm long. Inside the pods are seeds with orange hairs that can sting if touched. Seeds are black, ellipsoid, about 2.5 cm by 1.5 cm.

When it flowers
Plants typically flower and fruit between December and March.

Uses and chemistry
Seeds contain sterculic and malvalic acids (cyclopropene fatty acids). Antioxidants can be extracted from seeds using water or ethanol. Wood is used to make crates, is durable for woodware and canoes, and is used for tool handles. The tree provides shade because of its large leaves. Seeds can be boiled or roasted for eating, used to flavor chocolate, or fed to animals. Flowers are used in traditional remedies as an antitussive (cough suppressant).

Ecology
In the Pantanal wetlands of Central Brazil, the endangered hyacinth macaw nests almost exclusively in natural hollows of Sterculia apetala.

Etymology and names
The genus name Sterculia comes from stercus, the Latin word for manure, reflecting the strong odor of flowers and leaves. The species name apetala means “lacking petals.” Local names include camoruco, manduvi, and anacagüita.