Common Name: Elephant Rope Tree
Scientific Name: Sterculia villosa
Family: Sterculiaceae
Nepali Name: Odaane ( ओदाने )
average height (average)
Location: Hetauda, Nepal

The Elephant Rope Tree (Sterculia villosa), locally known as Odane, is a medium to large deciduous tree found in the tropical and subtropical forests of Nepal, particularly in deciduous woodlands of the lowlands and lower hills. It is easily recognized by its smooth, glossy grey bark covered with corky warts, large heart-shaped leaves clustered at the ends of branches, and its distinctive leafless appearance during the dry season from December to May.

The tree produces many-flowered panicles bearing small cream to yellowish flowers, often tinged with reddish or pink tones, between January and June. Its woody fruits are covered with rusty hairs and split open to reveal smooth black seeds. The bark yields a gum that is used as a substitute for Gum Karaya, while its strong, coarse fibres have traditionally been woven into ropes and harnesses for elephants used in timber extraction.

In Nepal, Sterculia villosa is typically found in deciduous and mixed forests at elevations of approximately 300–1,100 metres above sea level. It is an important native tree valued for its ecological, cultural, and practical uses.

Please feel free to comment below if the above species has been misidentified.

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