Sterculia apetala

9.9

A large tree from Central and South America with a wide leafy crown that loses its leaves each year

noun

Specialized

: Sterculia apetala

The Sterculia apetala is often planted in urban parks in tropical countries for its large canopy.

Examples

The shade of the Sterculia apetala provides welcome relief in the hot Panamanian climate.
In Panama, the Sterculia apetala is quite common.
Botanists studied the unique trunk of the Sterculia apetala for its adaptive qualities.
The Sterculia apetala is a magnificent tree.
The Sterculia apetala is known for its impressive height and lush foliage, making it a popular choice in tropical landscaping.
In Central America, the Sterculia apetala stands out in the rainforest with its tall, bare trunk and dense crown.
Tourists often take photos of the majestic Sterculia apetala while exploring Panama's vibrant natural environments.

Synonyms

Panama tree

vsSterculia apetala

9.1

A large tree from Panama with a big leafy top and a bare trunk

is native across Central and South America rather than only one country

Surface Forms

Sterculia apetala singular

Sterculia apetalas plural

Morphology

Sterculia + apetala

This is a Latin binomial (a taxonomic species name) functioning as a proper name rather than a compositional English phrase. Knowing 'Sterculia' only signals a genus of trees and 'apetala' is not a standard English word (and even if analyzable as Latin, it does not yield the specific common-name sense or geographic info). The specific meaning and properties of the species (e.g. 'Panama tree', large deciduous crown) are not derivable from the parts, so it is opaque to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Sterculia apetala may come from an old Latin word for 'dung' because some related trees have a strong bad smell, and it is also called the 'Panama tree' for its very large leafy crown and bare trunk. So the name helps you remember a big, shade-giving tree that is common in Panama and may even have helped give the country its name.