– Name:
– Brachychiton is derived from the Greek words for “short” and “tunic.”
– The name is often misconstrued as being of neuter gender.
– Specific epithets like B. rupestre and B. populneum are sometimes incorrectly amended.
– Kurrajong comes from Dharuk language meaning “fishing line.”
– References include Dixon, R.M.W.; Moore, Bruce; Ramson, W. S.; Thomas, Mandy (2006).
– Description:
– Brachychiton is a genus of 31 species of trees and large shrubs.
– Native to Australia and New Guinea, with fossils estimated to be 50 million years old.
– They grow to 4 – 30m tall and some are dry-season deciduous.
– Leaves range from entire to deeply palmately lobed with long slender lobes.
– All species are monoecious with separate male and female flowers on the same plant.
– Cultivation:
– Some Kurrajong species are popular garden trees.
– They have been introduced to hot dry regions globally.
– Hybridization for horticultural purposes is common.
– Known to bloom erratically in cultivation.
– Example of hybridization is B. populneo-acerifolius.
– Further Reading:
– Guymer, G.P. (1988) published a taxonomic revision of Brachychiton.
– Macoboy, S. (1991) authored “What tree is that?”.
– Rathie, Kerry (2014) wrote “Brachychitons: Flame Trees, Kurrajongs, and Bottle Trees”.
– Sources include Australian Systematic Botany and ISBN references.
– Further resources can be found in the references section.
– External Links:
– Wikimedia Commons contains media related to Brachychiton.
– Notes on Fossil Leaves by Stewart R. Hinsley, 2005.
– PlantList search for Brachychiton. Retrieved in 2019.
– Links to additional resources and images.
– Direct access to related media and research material.