sterculia

[ stur-kyoo-lee-uh ]

noun

1. any of various tropical trees of the genus Sterculia, of which some species are grown as ornamentals and some are the source of commercially valuable wood.

sterculia

/ stɜːˈkjuːlɪə /

noun

1. a dietary fibre used as a food stabilizer and denture adhesive. It is the dried gum tapped from the trunk and stems of the tree Sterculia urens , native to Central India and Pakistan

Word History and Origins

Origin of sterculia¹

1765–75; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin Stercul ( us ) a Roman deity supposed to have invented manuring (derivative of stercus manure, excrement) + ia -ia; from the fetid odor of the blossoms of certain species

Example Sentences

This is a large, spreading tree (a species of sterculia) under which the bentang is commonly placed.

From Project Gutenberg

The inner bark of Sterculia villosa is used for making ropes for timber-dragging purposes.

From Project Gutenberg

Sterculia was frequent, and we collected a great quantity of its ripe seeds.

From Project Gutenberg

The country was well grassed and openly wooded with box, sterculia, leguminous ironbark, and terminalia.

From Project Gutenberg

Casually found on the Nam Toroon, a Sterculia arborea, florib-masculis clavato, infundibul.

From Project Gutenberg