Sterculia rhynchocarpa K.Schum.

A shrub or small tree. It has many branches that are often spreading from near the base. It grows 8 m tall. The trunk can be swollen. The bark is smooth and purple or grey. It peels in papery flakes. The leaf blade is round or oval. The leaves can have 3 leaflets lobes arranged like fingers on a hand. The leaves are 1-5 cm long by 1-5 cm wide. The flowers are green with a red flush. The fruit are hairy pods. These have follicles 4-11 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. These split open. The fruit are spiny. The seeds are 2-4 mm long.

Acacia-Commiphora woodland and bushland on limestone or on red sandy soil overlying limestone; Combretum-Sterculia woodland on lava hills; also on gypsum; at elevations from near sea level to 1,300 metres.

The seeds are roasted and eaten.

Plants can be grown from seeds.