Brachychiton bidwillii
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Brachychiton bidwillii | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Brachychiton |
| Species: | B. bidwillii |
| Binomial name | |
| Brachychiton bidwillii Hook., 1859 | |
Brachychiton bidwillii, commonly known as the dwarf kurrajong or little kurrajong,[1] is a small tree of the genus Brachychiton found in tropical areas of eastern Australia, particularly Queensland.[2] It was originally classified in the family Sterculiaceae, which is now within Malvaceae.[a]
Varieties
It is a semi-deciduous or evergreen shrub, sometimes growing as a small tree, on a single stem that reaches 4 metres (13 ft) to as high as 7 metres (23 ft) tall and spreads 4 metres (13 ft). Though other varieties may not grow over 2 metres (6.6 ft). The caudex is distended, where it can store large quantities of water in its fleshy stems.[4]
After the leaves drop, the showy flowers appear in spring for as long as 4 to 6 weeks. In frostless conditions, they can flower from as early as July to February in the Southern Hemisphere. As the plant ages, flowers appear more profusely, appearing down to the trunk.[5][6]
The Southern Queensland variety occasionally features deeply lobed leaves, whereas the ‘Maroochydore’ form has rather hairy, five-lobed leaves which are puce-coloured when juvenile, with pink flowers having a different shape than others, and a long tube. Larger flowers are present in some plants from the northern inland Queensland. The 'Northern Coastal' has five deeply lobed leaves with small bright red unfading flowers. The 'Leichhardt' form flowers for 3 months from mid-spring in a cold year.[5]
