sterculia Definition

a genus of tropical trees (family Sterculiaceae) including several from which karaya gum is obtained

karaya gum

any of several laxative vegetable gums that are similar to tragacanth and are often used as substitutes for it, that are obtained from tropical Asian trees (genera Sterculia of the family Sterculiaceae and Cochlospermum of the family Bixaceae), and that include especially one derived from an Indian tree (S. urens) —called also gum karaya, karaya, sterculia gum