PlantNET Home DONATE TODAY | PlantNET Home | Search NSW Flora | Contact Us  
FloraOnline
Introduction
Plant Name Search
Index Search
Spatial Search
Identification Keys
Classification
Glossary
WeedAlert
Telopea Journal
Other Data Sources
NEW SOUTH WALES FLORA ONLINE Printable Page

Genus Brachychiton Family Malvaceae

Description: Mostly trees, often with swollen trunks, sometimes multi-stemmed shrubs, evergreen or deciduous, monoecious.

Leaves simple or rarely palmately compound in juveniles of some non-N.S.W. species, margins entire or lobed; stipules mostly shed early.

Flowers in axillary panicles, unisexual. Calyx tubular, 5-lobed, petaloid, cream to red. Petals absent. Stamens 10–30, subsessile on an androgynophore; staminodes 10–30 at base of carpels. Carpels 5, free, raised on a short gynophore; styles cohering when young, finally separating.

Follicles 5 or fewer, stalked, glabrous or pubescent outside, stellate-hirsute inside; seeds numerous, embedded in capsule by the interlocking of stellate hairs and honeycomb-like seed endocarp.


Illustration
M. Maiden

Distribution and occurrence: World: 31 species, Australia & New Guinea. Australia: 30 species, all mainland States, chiefly tropical & subtropical regions.

A few species are cultivated as ornamentals, as are some of the showy hybrids; these include B. acerifolius X B. populneus with glabrous, entire leaves and pink flowers 15–20 mm long and B. discolor X B. populneus with leaves entire or 3-lobed, glabrous above and whitish stellate-hairy below, flowers bright pink or red, 20–30 mm long. Occasional hybridization occurs naturally between some species in areas of distributional overlap. B. populneus is a valuable fodder plant for stock, especially in inland areas during drought.

Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept:

Taxa not yet included in identification key
Brachychiton x vinicolor

 Key to the species 
1Leaves glabrous, entire or 3–5-lobed; follicles glabrous on outside, stalks more than 20 mm long; calyx less than 20 mm long, inner surface glabrous; stamens and staminodes each 10–202
Leaves tomentose, 3–7-lobed; follicles rusty-brown pubescent outside, stalks less than 20 mm long; calyx more than 20 mm long, inner surface pubescent; stamens and staminodes each 25–30Brachychiton discolor
2Leaves with lamina usually 10–30 cm long, rhombic to ovate, entire or widely 3–5-lobed, apex short-acuminate; petiole usually 10–20 cm long; flowers bright coral-redBrachychiton acerifolius
Leaves with lamina usually 5–10 cm long, ovate to lanceolate, entire or sometimes narrowly 3-, rarely 5-lobed, apex long-acuminate; petiole usually 5–8 cm long; flowers creamy-white and speckled dark red in throat
                       Back to 1
Brachychiton populneus

  Privacy | Copyright | Disclaimer | About PlantNET | Cite PlantNET