Sterculia Foetida, Jungli Badam - 0.5 kg Seeds

Sterculia foetida, the wild almond or jungli badam (Sterculia foetida), is a large deciduous tree with a tall straight trunk and tiers of spreading branches. It is named for its strong-smelling red flowers, which appear before the leaves, and for its big woody red follicles holding oil-rich black seeds resembling almonds.

The seeds yield an oil used as a biofuel and lubricant and are eaten after roasting, while the wood is used for boxes, planks and pulp; the tree is planted as an avenue, shade and ornamental tree. It grows in the dry and moist deciduous forests of peninsular India, the Western Ghats and coastal tracts, tolerating poor soils and seasonal drought.

• Family: Malvaceae (formerly Sterculiaceae)
• Native region: tropical Asia and East Africa, including India
• Mature height: 20–30 m
• Growth rate: moderate to fast

Sowing the seed: soak the hard seeds in water for 24–48 hours, then sow 2–3 cm deep in nursery bags of well-drained soil. Germination is somewhat slow and uneven, usually 21–30 days. Raise the seedlings under light shade and transplant to the field when 30–45 cm tall at the onset of the monsoon.