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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Kurrajong
| image = Brachychiton_populneus, details.jpg
| image_caption = Leaf and flower details
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malvales]]
| familia = [[Sterculiaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Brachychiton]]''
| species = '''''B. populneus'''''
| binomial = ''Brachychiton populneus''
| binomial_authority = (Schott & Endl.) R. Br.
}}
The '''Kurrajong'''<ref>Floyd, A.G., ''Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia'', 1989, p391</ref> ('''''Brachychiton populneus''''') is a small to medium sized [[tree]] found naturally in Australia in a diversity of habitats from wetter coastal districts to [[semi-arid]] interiors of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. The extended trunk is a water storage devise for survival in a warm dry climate. The bell-shaped flowers are variable in colour (pale to pink) while the leaves vary considerably in shape. The leaves are either simple and pointed, or may be 3 - 9 lobed. Saplings grow from a drought and fire resistant tap-rooted [[tuber]].
Kurrajong has multiple uses. Seeds are eaten by Aboriginal people after roasting.<ref> Low, T., ''Wild Food Plants of Australia'', 1989, p183</ref> The soft spongy wood was used for making shields, and the bark as a fibre. The leaves are also used as emergency fodder for drought effected animal stock.
It has been introduced as an ornamental tree to south-western Australia, South Africa, Louisiana, California and Arizona. In western Australia it was observed to be [[Invasive species|invasive]] in disturbed areas.
Kurrajong is related to other ''[[Brachychiton]]'' species, including Queensland bottle tree ''[[Brachychiton rupestris|B.rupestris]]'' and ''[[Illawarra Flame Tree|B. acerifolius]]'', and the species are interhybridized by horticulturists to produce ornamental hybrids.
The specific name ''populneus'' pertains to a perceived similarity to genus ''[[Poplar|Populus]]'', the Poplars. Sometimes ''B.populneus'' is also known by the misnomers of "lacebark kurrajong" and "bottle tree" (USA), but these are the common names for other species in Australia.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
* Macoboy, S. (1991) What tree is that?, ISBN 1 86302 1310
==External references==
* [http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1442-9993.2000.01082.x Austral Ecology, Invasion of urban bushland]
* [http://www.koalanativeplants.com.au/commerce/search/products/?product_id=brachpop&merchant_id=2056 Note on economic value]
* [http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2002/brachychiton-populneus.html ''B. populneus'', Australian National Botanic Gardens]
* [http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Sterculiaceae/Brachychiton_populneus.html Horticultural notes]
[[Category:Brachychiton]]
[[Category:Bushfood]]
[[Category:Trees]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = Kurrajong
| image = Brachychiton_populneus, details.jpg
| image_caption = Leaf and flower details
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malvales]]
| familia = [[Sterculiaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Brachychiton]]''
| species = '''''B. populneus'''''
| binomial = ''Brachychiton populneus''
| binomial_authority = (Schott & Endl.) R. Br.
}}
The '''Kurrajong'''<ref>Floyd, A.G., ''Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia'', 1989, p391</ref> ('''''Brachychiton populneus''''') is a small to medium sized [[tree]] found naturally in Australia in a diversity of habitats from wetter coastal districts to [[semi-arid]] interiors of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. The extended trunk is a water storage devise for survival in a warm dry climate. The bell-shaped flowers are variable in colour (pale to pink) while the leaves vary considerably in shape. The leaves are either simple and pointed, or may be 3 - 9 lobed. Saplings grow from a drought and fire resistant tap-rooted [[tuber]].
Kurrajong has multiple uses. Seeds are eaten by Aboriginal people after roasting.<ref> Low, T., ''Wild Food Plants of Australia'', 1989, p183</ref> The soft spongy wood was used for making shields, and the bark as a fibre. The leaves are also used as emergency fodder for drought effected animal stock.
It has been introduced as an ornamental tree to south-western Australia, South Africa, Louisiana, California and Arizona. In western Australia it was observed to be [[Invasive species|invasive]] in disturbed areas.
Kurrajong is related to other ''[[Brachychiton]]'' species, including Queensland bottle tree ''[[Brachychiton rupestris|B.rupestris]]'' and ''[[Illawarra Flame Tree|B. acerifolius]]'', and the species are interhybridized by horticulturists to produce ornamental hybrids.
The specific name ''populneus'' pertains to a perceived similarity to genus ''[[Poplar|Populus]]'', the Poplars. Sometimes ''B.populneus'' is also known by the misnomers of "lacebark kurrajong" and "bottle tree" (USA), but these are the common names for other species in Australia.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
* Macoboy, S. (1991) What tree is that?, ISBN 1 86302 1310
==External references==
* [http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1442-9993.2000.01082.x Austral Ecology, Invasion of urban bushland]
* [http://www.koalanativeplants.com.au/commerce/search/products/?product_id=brachpop&merchant_id=2056 Note on economic value]
* [http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2002/brachychiton-populneus.html ''B. populneus'', Australian National Botanic Gardens]
* [http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Sterculiaceae/Brachychiton_populneus.html Horticultural notes]
[[Category:Brachychiton]]
[[Category:Bushfood]]
[[Category:Trees]]
