Sterculia Pod

The beautiful fruit, or "follicle", as botanists call it) of the jungle tree Sterculia foetida are among our favorite botanicals! Also known locally in Southeast Asia as the "Java Olive." They are carefully collected as fallen specimens from areas free of pesticides or other contaminants, gently cleaned, and sun dried.  Sterculia Pods have an almost "woody" appearance and texture, and are quite durable. They make perfect little hiding spots for dwarf cichlids, catfish, and other fishes. A perfect natural "prop" to simulate the flooded forest or tropical stream biotope, where branches, seeds, and pods like these fall in and accumulate, adding to the richness of the biotope! Lots of aesthetic and functional possibilities with these pods!  They're about 4” (10.16cm) or so in diameter on average, with openings around 1.75”-2.5" (4.45-6.35cm). These pods will leach some tannins into the water over the long term. Awesome extra trivia: The genus name, Sterculia, means "bad smelling", and the