Sterculia foetida is a soft wooded tree that can grow up to 35 metres (115 feet) tall. Common names for the plant are the bastard poon tree, java olive tree, hazel sterculia, wild almond tree, and skunk tree. The oil of Sterculia foetida has been found to be comparable to sunflower, soybean, and grapeseed oils for the use of biofuels.