Brachychiton garrawayae

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 12 m high. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are simple and have 3-5 lobes. They are 7-13 cm long by 7-16 cm wide. There are short hairs on top and velvety hairs underneath. The leaf stalks are 2-9 cm long. The flowers are in groups from the branches. There are no petals but 5 sepals. They are fused and pink with a green base and red inside. They are 18-45 mm long. The fruit is a brown follicle. It is 35-65 mm long by 25-30 mm wide. It is densely covered with hairs. There are 9-23 seeds. These are brown with a yellow aril. The seeds are 7-11 mm long.

There are about 30 Brachychiton species. Most are in Australia. Also put in the family Sterculiaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in monsoon and vine forest. They grow in far NE Queensland from sea level to 230 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Sterculia garrawayae F. M. Bailey; Sterculia paradoxa var. garrawayae (Bailey) Domin;