Sterculia lychnophora Hance | |
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Dried Sterculia lychnophora seeds | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Division: | Magnoliophyta |
Class: | Magnoliopsida |
Order: | Malvales |
Family: | Sterculiaceae |
Genus: | Sterculia |
Species: | S. lychnophora |
Binomial name | |
Sterculia lychnophora Hance |
Sterculia lychnophora Hance (Malva nut tree or Taiwan sweet gum tree) is a species of tree in the genus Sterculia, native to mainland Southeast Asia. Its seed is used in traditional Chinese medicine as a coolant and it also used for gastrointestinal disorders and for soothing the throat. As a result it is collected as a major NTFP (Non-timber forest product) in Laos and the country's second export crop after coffee.
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The tree grows to a height of 25-30 meters. The dried seeds are the size of an adult's fingertip; they are brown and have coarse skin.
The species is also given as Scaphium macropodum or Scaphium lychnophorum.
The flesh surrounding the dried seeds swells to eight times its original volume when soaked in water, forming an irregularly shaped, reddish gelatinous mass. After being soaked and the seed kernel removed, the flesh is mixed with granulated white sugar, ice, and soaked basil seeds, and drunk as a cooling drink in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. They are sometimes also used, along with other ingredients, in sweet, cool soups similar to the Chinese tong sui.[1]
In China, malva nut is used in tea as well by mixing with other ingredients such as sugar candy, red date, haw, liquorice, chrysanthemun flower, lilyturfroot, and jasmine tea. The advantage of such tea is believed to reduce the "hotness" of the body, and nurture the body.
According to the Chinese medicine, the use of "sterculia lychnophora" is to remove heat from the lung, to cure sore throat, to counteract toxicity, and to relax the bowels. Therefore, when a person has symptoms such as hoarseness of voice, dry cough, and sore, dry throat due to heat in the lung; constipation with headache and bloodshot eyes should consume malva nut by putting it into boiling water.
Although it possesses medicinal properties, care must be taken with its consumption. Avoid boiling more than 3 seeds per drink. Overconsumption symptoms include white watery phlegm, nausea, coughing, and swollen tongue. People with frequent digestion problems and abdominal pain or diarrhea should avoid it entirely.