Brachychiton rupestris
Brachychiton rupestris
Safety & Hazards
The seeds are surrounded in the seed capsule by irritant hairs and are best collected using gloves. The tree is sometimes used as a fodder, especially in times of drought, though there are occasional cases of cattle dying as a result of nitrate poisoning[ 156 Title Useful Wild Plants in Australia. Publication Author Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Publisher William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney Year 1981 ISBN 0-00-216441-8 Description A very readable book. ].
Botanical Description
Brachychiton rupestris is an evergreen tree that can become deciduous in a drought. It can grow up to 25 metres tall. As the trees grow they develop their characteristic bulbous trunk which gives rise to the common name and which makes the tree unmistakable. Some trunks have become as large as 3.5 metres in diameter[ 385 Title Bihrmann's Caudiciforms Publication Author Website http://www.bihrmann.com/caudiciforms/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An internet site giving information on caudiciform plants (plants with swollen stem bases such as the Baobab tree, cycads and many succulents). Excellent photos, usually of cultivated plants in pots. , 694 Title Australian Rainforest Plants Volumes 1 - 6 Publication Author Nicholson N. & H. Publisher Terania Rainforest Publishing; New South Wales. Year 2007 ISBN 9-78095894-3628 Description Beautiful set of booklets with a terse description of over 600 species and their habitat, often including some of their uses and notes on their cultivation, plus at least one, excellent photograph. ]. A very important subsistence food of the Australian Aborigines, though little used today. The plant supplies edible seeds, leaves, roots and inner bark, as well as providing a source of water in emergencies. The plant is commonly grown as an ornamental in warm temperate to tropical zones[ 343 Title Growing Native Plants Publication Author Website http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/ Publisher Australian National Botanic Gardens Year 0 ISBN Description A series of articles giving details of cultivation and matters of general interest (including a few plant uses) on over 250 Australian plants. ]. Much of the tree's habitat has been cleared and used as grazing land, but the tree is often retained because the spongy, water-filled tissue of the cut trunks can be used as a drought fodder[ 694 Title Australian Rainforest Plants Volumes 1 - 6 Publication Author Nicholson N. & H. Publisher Terania Rainforest Publishing; New South Wales. Year 2007 ISBN 9-78095894-3628 Description Beautiful set of booklets with a terse description of over 600 species and their habitat, often including some of their uses and notes on their cultivation, plus at least one, excellent photograph. ].