<![CDATA[Kepuh is a plant belonging to the Malvaceae family, widely distributed in tropical regions, including Indonesia. It is a perennial tree that grows in lowlands, particularly in arid areas. The tree is known by various local names, such as halumpang (Batak); kepuh and kepoh (Bali); and kepo and kelompan (East Nusa Tenggara). Kepuh trees are commonly found in sacred sites, such as cemeteries. Sterculia foetida L. (Kepuh) is a tropical plant with potential as a source of alternative vegetable oil. This study aimed to determine the oil content of Kepuh seeds and analyze the phylogenetic relationships among Kepuh populations from Badung Regency, Denpasar City, and Rote Regency (East Nusa Tenggara). The research was conducted from June 2025 to January 2026, employing field observations, measurements of morphological characteristics (stem, leaf, and seed), and oil content analysis via Soxhlet extraction. Morphological and oil content data were analyzed using cluster analysis with PAST software to generate a dendrogram of phylogenetic relationships. The results revealed variations in morphological characteristics and oil content across locations. Among the Bali samples, the highest oil content was found in Monang-Maning 1 (40.15%), while the lowest was in Serangan 3 (20.10%). For the Rote samples, the highest oil content was observed in Oemasi 2 (35.15%) and the lowest in Oemasi 4 (13.81%). Cluster analysis showed that the 50 Kepuh samples formed two main groups with a similarity index of 93.5%, indicating a high degree of morphological similarity among populations despite their different geographical origins. The findings demonstrate that variations in oil content are influenced by differences in morphological characteristics and environmental conditions, and they identify Kepuh populations with the potential for development as alternative vegetable oil sources.]]>
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