Pterospermum acerifolium

• Botanical Name : Pterospermum acerifolium (L.) Willd.
• Synonyms : Pentapetes acerifolia L.
• Common Name : Maple-Leaved Bayur Tree, Kanak Champo, Muchh-Kund, Karnikar
• Plant Family : Sterculiaceae
• Plant Form : Tree
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation, Indroda Park, Van Chetana Kendra

About Pterospermum acerifolium Plant :

• Habit : A large tree.
• Leaves : Variable in shape and size, 10-14 by 6-12 inches, orbicular or oblong, entire or variously lobed, cordate and sub-peltate, glabrous above but white hairs below, petioles long, stipules multifid, caducous.
• Inflorescence : Axillary solitary or in pairs.
• Flowers :
  • Large, long, fragrant, white, involucral bracts multifid, caduceus.
  • Sepals long, 5, linear-oblong, hairy.
  • Petals 5, linear oblong, obliquely wedge-shaped.
  • Staminodes 5, club-shaped, fertile stamens 15, in groups of 3 between the staminodes.
  • Ovary oblong, 5-angled, 5-celled, ovules 12-20 in each cell.
• Fruit : Capsules 4-6 inches long, oblong, 5-angled, brown hairy.
• Flowering and Fruiting Time : January - April
• Significance :
  • The leaves are used by the hill people to stop bleeding and also for packing.
  • The wood is used for making packing and in furniture making as it takes good polish.
  • The cut branches and sepals exude mucilage when put into water.
  • The sepals are used in medicines.
  • Planted for its beautiful appearance in the gardens.