Little kurrajong
Brachychiton bidwillii, Fam. Sterculiaceae
Shrub to about 4m, deciduous when flowering. Brachychiton from the Greek 'brachys' short and 'chiton' an under garment, outer covering, coat of mail, referring to the loose outer cover on the seed.
| Weed Category: | |
| Weed: | No |
| Form or habit: | Shrub |
| Family: | Sterculiaceae |
| Leaf: | Simple, with about five sinuate lobes, 5.5-25 x 5.5-23cm, sparse cover of stellate hairs on the upper surface, densely rusty hairy below. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Red, Pink |
| Flower description: | Flowers in sessile clusters, emerging from the trunk and branches, red, crimson or deep candy pink. Summer to autumn. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Brown |
| Fruit: | |
| Fruit description: | Brown follicles, 8-12cm long, covered in rusty, stellate hairs. |
| Habitat: | Rainforest, woodland. |
| Distribution | Queensland. |
| Food source for: | Seed eaten by the common bronzewing and crested pigeons. |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Australia. |
| Notes: | Some Aboriginal communities ate the seed raw or roasted. Grow from fresh seed, germinates rapidly. |
| Information sources: | Melzer R. & Plumb J. (2007) Plants of Capricornia. |
