Brachychiton acerifolius.
It was previously known as Sterculia acerifolia.
Native to Australia it is known as the Illawarra Flame tree.
Seen in Brisbane streets and parks often about 12 m high but up to 35 m.
The alternate leaves, on petioles up to 24 cm long, are variable.
The blades are 20 (10 – 30) cms long and wide.
They have 3 to 5 (7) wide lobes but can be ovate with no lobes.
There are no hairs and both surfaces are a similar colour.
Trees are deciduous with flowers appearing on bare branches.
Branched inflorescences, up to 40 cm long, can cover the whole tree.
Flowers are up to 2 cm long on stalks up to 1 cm long.
Commonly a bright red they can also be pink.
The petal-like sepals have their bases fused with 5 (6) lobes at the top.
There may be a few stellate hairs on the outer surface.
There are no nectaries.
Male flowers have 10 to 20 stamens and females the same number of staminodes.
The fruit are follicles up to 12 cm long and 4 cm wide.
The stalks are over 2 cm long.
They are dark brown, boat shaped with a smooth surface when mature.
The seed are surrounded by short hairs.
There are hybrids between B acerifolius and B. discolor.
Hybrids of B. acerifolius and B. populneus have undivided leaves with
no hairs and pink flowers up to 2 cm long.
J.F.
