Brachychiton

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iBrachychiton
B. acerifolius
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Malvales Family: Sterculiaceae Genus: Brachychiton
Species
See text.

Brachychiton (Kurrajong, Bottletree) is a genus of 31 species of trees and large shrubs, native to Australia (the centre of diversity, with 30 species), and New Guinea (one species). They grow to 4–30 m tall, and are dry-season deciduous. Several species (though not all) are pachycaul plants with a very stout stem for their overall size, used to store water during periods of drought. The leaves are variable, from entire to deeply palmately lobed with long slender leaflet-like lobes joined only right at the base; size ranges from 4 to 20 cm long and wide.

The name Brachychiton comes from the Greek brachys, short, and chiton, tunic, in referring to its loose seed coats. Kurrajong is an Aboriginal word for "fibre-yielding-plant" and refers to the use of bark from many of these trees for weaving nets, ropes and baskets.

Selected species

• Brachychiton accuminatus
• Brachychiton acerifolius – Illawarra Flame Tree, Flame Kurrajong
• Brachychiton australis – Broad-leaved Bottletree
• Brachychiton bidwillii
• Bracychiton compactus
• Brachychiton discolor – Scrub Bottletree, Queensland Lacebark
• Brachychiton gregorii – Desert Kurrajong
• Brachychiton paradoxus
• Brachychiton populneus – Kurrajong
• Brachychiton rupestris - Queensland Bottle Tree