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Showing results for sterculia. Search instead for genus sterculia.

sterculia

American  
[stur-kyoo-lee-uh] / stɜrˈkju li ə /

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 British  
/ 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of sterculia

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

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

From Journals of Australian Explorations by Gregory, Augustus Charles

The heteromorphous sterculia of the interior, and some species of eucalyptus of very stunted growth covered its sides, which however for a considerable distance were not deficient in grass.

From Journals of Two Expeditions into the Interior of New South Wales by Oxley, John

At 3.30 p.m. entered a dense scrub of small crooked eucalypti and acacia, with a few sterculia.

From Journals of Australian Explorations by Gregory, Augustus Charles

The country traversed, consisted of scrubby flats, and low sandy ridges, timbered with bloodwood, messmate, mimosa, melaleuca, grevillea, and two or three species of the sterculia or curriijong, then in full blossom.

From Narrative of the Overland Expedition of the Messrs. Jardine from Rockhampton to Cape York, Northern Queensland by Byerley, Frederick, J.

Near Cura we found all the people occupied in clearing the ground covered with mimosa, sterculia, and Coccoloba excoriata, for the purpose of extending the cultivation of cotton.

From Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 1 by Ross, Thomasina

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