Firmiana simplex
Firmiana simplex, commonly known as the Chinese parasol tree, or wutong, is a tree in the family Malvaceae, formerly in the family Sterculiaceae, in the order Malvales, and native to Asia. It grows up to tall.
Description
It has alternate, deciduous leaves across, palmately lobed with three or five lobes, and small fragrant, greenish-white flowers borne in large inflorescences. A flowering tree varies in fragrance with weather and time of the day, having a lemony scent with citronella and chocolate tones. The flowers are pollinated by bees. The seedpod is like a pair of brown ovate leaves with seeds along the edges. Up to five pairs are produced by each flower.Uses
Due to its sonic properties, the wood is used for the soundboards of several Chinese instruments, including the guqin and guzheng.The roasted seeds have reportedly been used to make into a tea.
The Taivoan people in the Nanzixian River basin of Taiwan harvest the tough bark of 2–3-year-old trees. After soaking it by the river for about a month, they remove the rotted bark and twist the remaining fibers into ropes. These ropes can be used for making traps or other binding purposes, particularly for constructing wild boar traps. The robust nature of these ropes helps prevent the boars from escaping.