The Lonely African 'Star-Chesnut' Tree

By Bruce G. Marcot, Ecology Picture of the Week:

This lonely tree growing in an open bushveld field in northeastern Namibia is an African star-chestnut. Although it is not a "chestnut" as the name is used in North America (nor is it a "star" for that matter), it is indeed uniquely African.

This is one of 28 star-chestnuts (Sterculia spp.) which include cacao trees. This species is locally called the mopopaja tree, and its Afrikaans name is Afrikaanse sterkastaiing.

The fibrous bark is used for mats and ropes. When the bark flakes off, it leaves a beautiful, pastel-colored marbled underbark. Its large hairy leaves are supposedly edible, but I did not try, nor do I recommend it, without more specific botanical expertise on this species.

  --Bruce G. Marcot

Image and text © Bruce G. Marcot, Ph.D. Research Wildlife Ecologist,
who produces the Ecology Picture of the Week website.