Sterculiaceae

Sterculia, from the Latin stercus dung, alluding to the smell of the flowers. Sterculiaceae s.str. (13 genera) are chiefly tropical trees and shrubs with fibrous mucilaginous bark, hairs stellate or bushy; leaves usually spirally arranged, simple often palmately-lobed, occasionally compound. Flowers usually functionally unisexual, perianth a single whorl, chiefly cup-like with 5 lobes. Carpels 5, styles 5; fruit dehiscent or indehiscent follicles. Sterculiaceae s. lat. includes Byttneriaceae (26 genera)