Sterculia quadrifida R.Br.

A small to medium sized tree. It grows up to 5-12-20 m tall. It has an open rounded crown. It is a straggly plant and the smaller stems are thick. The bark is smooth and grey. The leaves are long and heart shaped. They are 9-23 cm long by 5.5-17.5 cm wide. They are dark green and rough with prominent veins. They are paler and finely hairy underneath. The leaves fall off during the year. The leaf stalk is 4-10 cm long. The flowers are small, greenish-yellow and not easily noticed. They are produced in flower heads towards the ends of branches. The sepals of the flower remain joined forming a tube which is bell-shaped. They are 0.5-1 cm long by 0.5 cm wide. The outer surface is green and hairy. Several flowers occur together in flower arrangements that are 3-10 cm long. The fruit are groups of leathery pods or capsules carried stiffly on the stems. The fruit are 5-8 cm across by 3-4 cm long. The skin is rough velvety and leathery and turns red when ripe. The ripe pods split to show the light shiny inner surface and black seeds. There are 2-8 shiny seeds. The seeds are 1-2 cm long. The seeds are edible.

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in coastal monsoon vine thickets and on sand dunes behind the beach. It can be grown on a wide variety of well-drained soils. It has some tolerance to drought. Melbourne Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

The seeds are eaten raw. When peeled they have a pleasant peanut like taste. They are also cooked. They are harvested after the fruit is ripe and fully open.

Plants are grown from seed. Fresh seed germinate in a few days. Germination can be improved by pouring hot water over the seeds and allowing them to soak for 24 hours.