Sterculia Urens
Family : Sterculiaceae
Common Name : Gum Karaya
English Name : Sterculia Urens
Hindi Name : Kullu
Telugu Name : Kavili
Tree Characteristics
Gum karaya is a medium-sized, deciduous tree to 15 m in height, usually with a clean, crooked, short bole up to 2 m DBH; branches large, spreading; bark thick, greyish-white or reddish, smooth, shining with a thin, white transparent outer coat, peeling off in papery flakes. Leaves on long petioles, crowded at the ends of branches, palmately 5-lobed, 20-30 cm diameter; Flowers greenish yellow, small, in terminal panicles; Infact, the specific name urens means stinging in reference to the hairs on flowers.
Nursery technique :
Treated seeds are sown in polybags kept on hard surface in May without any shading. After germination, watering is done once a day and copper fungicide is applied to ward off damping off of the seedlings. 1 month old seedlings are planted out. No. of seeds per Kg is 5,500 to 6,360; Germination percentage is 32 to 77. And, the time taken for germination in days 10 to 15.
Economic Uses :
A fibre is obtained from the bark. It is used for making mats, bags, cordage, and paper.
Trees exude gum karaya used in foodstuffs as emulsifiers, stabilizers and thickeners.
Timber is used for making musical instruments, toys, light packing cases and low-grade pencils. The seeds are edible and are generally eaten after roasting
Gum is polysaccharide in nature and is used in throat infection and in dental fixture powders
