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Conservation Status
IUCN: not evaluated
USFWS: None
Family: MALVACEAE Genus: Brachychiton Species: acerifolius Species Author: Macarthur & C. Moore Vernacular: Flame Tree Synonyms: Sterculia acerifolia A. Cunn.
Illawarra Flame Tree is a medium sized tree, which may reach 30-35 m in height although it grows much smaller in cultivation. Leaves are about 2.5 cm long, pale green and may have entire margins or be deeply lobed. The tree produces bright, waxy red bell shaped flowers in clusters at the ends of the branches. The flowers appear, in early summer on bare branches, when the tree looses all the leaves. The flowers are followed by large, leathery capsules, which contain many corn-like seeds.
The Flame Tree is perhaps one of the most spectacular tropical tree. When the trees are in flower they stand out like burning candles of red throughout the forest.
(Rowell, Raymond J. 1984. Ornamental Flowering Trees In Australia.)
(Latymer, Hugo. 2001. Mediterranean Garden.)
This striking Australian native tree is found in subtropical New South Wale and Queensland.
(Rowell, Raymond J. 1984. Ornamental Flowering Trees In Australia.)
(Latymer, Hugo. 2001. Mediterranean Garden.)
The word "brachychiton" comes from the Greek words "brachys" meaning "short" and "chiton", meaning "tunic" It has been given as a reference to the coating of the seed.
(Information for this species compiled and recorded by Camelia Cirnaru, NTBG Consultant.)
We currently have 4 herbarium specimens for Brachychiton acerifolius in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.
