Brachychiton
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
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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 4-20 cm long and wide.
The name Brachychiton comes from the Greek brachys, short, and chiton, tunic, in referring to its overlapping scales.
- Selected species
- Brachychiton acerifolius - Flame Kurrajong
- Brachychiton australis - Broad-leaved Bottletree
- Brachychiton bidwillii
- Brachychiton discolor - Scrub Bottletree
- Brachychiton gregorii - Desert Kurrajong
- Brachychiton paradoxus
- Brachychiton populneus - Kurrajong
- Brachychiton rupestris - Queensland Bottletree
