Sterculiaceae - Sterculia family

Herbs, shrubs or trees. Stipules usually present. Leaves usually alternate, simple or digitately compound. Flowers bisexual, unisexual or polygamous, actinomorphic. Calyx ± divided into (usually 5) lobes. Epicalyx bracts usually present. Petals usually 5, hypogynous or 0. Stamens 5-many, staminodes sometimes present. Anthers 2-thecous. Ovary superior, 2-5-locular or with 2-5 ± coherent carpels which separate in fruit.

Worldwide: 67 genera and 1500 species, mostly tropical and warm areas but a few temperate.

Mozambique: 3 cultivated genera and 5 cultivated taxa.