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Useful Tropical Plants

Brachychiton acerifolius

(A.Cunn. ex G.Don) Macarthur & C.Moore

Malvaceae

+ Synonyms

Chichaea acerifolia (A.Cunn. ex G.Don) C.Presl

Clompanus acerifolia (A.Cunn. ex G.Don) Kuntze

Sterculia acerifolia A.Cunn. ex G.Don

Common Name: Flame Tree

Brachychiton acerifolius
Flowers and leaves
Photograph by: Unknown
Image credit to Australian National Botanic Gardens
Brachychiton acerifolius Brachychiton acerifolius Brachychiton acerifolius Brachychiton acerifolius Brachychiton acerifolius Brachychiton acerifolius Brachychiton acerifolius Brachychiton acerifolius Brachychiton acerifolius

General Information

Brachychiton acerifolius is a deciduous tree growing up to 35 metres tall. The tree loses its leaves for a few weeks prior to flowering[
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.
]. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 70cm in diameter[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
,
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.
].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its edible seed and useful fibre. A very ornamental plant, flowering when leafless, it is a popular street tree and it is often grown for its display of brilliant red flowers[
693
Title
Bush Foods of New South Wales
Publication
 
Author
Stewart S.; Percival B.
Website
http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/education/Resources/bush_foods
Publisher
Royal Botanic gardens; Sydney, Australia.
Year
1997
ISBN
07313-0004-1
Description
A small booklet with information on more than 30 species of edible plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Known Hazards

There are irritating hairs inside the seedpods. Extreme caution must be taken with these hairs because they irritate the skin, are easily inhaled and have been known to cause blindness[
693
Title
Bush Foods of New South Wales
Publication
 
Author
Stewart S.; Percival B.
Website
http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/education/Resources/bush_foods
Publisher
Royal Botanic gardens; Sydney, Australia.
Year
1997
ISBN
07313-0004-1
Description
A small booklet with information on more than 30 species of edible plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Like many members of the Sterculiaceae, this species produces mucilage when wounded. The mucilage produced if the fruit is damaged by insects has a corrosive action and, if it should fall on any motor vehicle parked under the tree ithen t will often strip the paint from the vehicle[
713
Title
Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/cd-keys/rfk/index.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online resource giving botanical information, and a little bit about plant usage, for over 2,700 species of plants found in the Australian rainforest.
].

Botanical References

200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
365
Title
Flora of New South Wales
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/floraonline.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line resource giving a brief botanical description of all the native plants of New South Wales, their habitat and range, together with diagrams and photographs of the plants.

Range

Australia - New South Wales, Queensland.

Habitat

Wet and dry rainforests at elevations up to 1,000 metres[
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.
]. Found in drier, more seasonal rain forest and also in well developed rain forests, growing on a variety of sites[
713
Title
Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/cd-keys/rfk/index.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online resource giving botanical information, and a little bit about plant usage, for over 2,700 species of plants found in the Australian rainforest.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitDeciduous Tree
Height30.00 m
Growth RateFast
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Brachychiton acerifolius ranges from the tropics to the warm temperate zone of eastern Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
,
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.
]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 26 - 32°c, but can tolerate 10 - 36°c[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. The plant is relatively hardy when dormant, tolerating occasional short-lived lows to about -5°c, although young new growth can be killed at 0°c. It the tree is damaged by frost then, so long as the damage is not too severe, it usually recovers well. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,400 - 1,900mm, but tolerates 1,300 - 2,000mm[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].
Prefers a sunny position[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. An extremely adaptable plant[
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.
], it grows best in a moderately fertile, well-drained soil[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Prefers a sheltered position[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating 5.5 - 7.5[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].
A fast-growing tree, so long as it is well supplied with moisture and nutrients[
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 ornamental tree with a spectacular flowering display, which happens when the tree is leafless. Heavy flowering events only occur every few years[
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.
].
The tree hybridizes in the wild with Brachychiton discolor[
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.
].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked[
693
Title
Bush Foods of New South Wales
Publication
 
Author
Stewart S.; Percival B.
Website
http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/education/Resources/bush_foods
Publisher
Royal Botanic gardens; Sydney, Australia.
Year
1997
ISBN
07313-0004-1
Description
A small booklet with information on more than 30 species of edible plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The yellow seeds can be roasted and eaten, but special care needs to be taken with their preparation because of the dangerous hairs inside the seed pod[
693
Title
Bush Foods of New South Wales
Publication
 
Author
Stewart S.; Percival B.
Website
http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/education/Resources/bush_foods
Publisher
Royal Botanic gardens; Sydney, Australia.
Year
1997
ISBN
07313-0004-1
Description
A small booklet with information on more than 30 species of edible plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A fibre is obtained from the inner bark[
693
Title
Bush Foods of New South Wales
Publication
 
Author
Stewart S.; Percival B.
Website
http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/education/Resources/bush_foods
Publisher
Royal Botanic gardens; Sydney, Australia.
Year
1997
ISBN
07313-0004-1
Description
A small booklet with information on more than 30 species of edible plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. It can be used to make twine for fishing nets and fishing lines[
693
Title
Bush Foods of New South Wales
Publication
 
Author
Stewart S.; Percival B.
Website
http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/education/Resources/bush_foods
Publisher
Royal Botanic gardens; Sydney, Australia.
Year
1997
ISBN
07313-0004-1
Description
A small booklet with information on more than 30 species of edible plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The bark is fully 5cm thick when the tree is fully grown, and furnishes bast with a most beautiful lace-like texture. The fibre is very simply prepared by steeping, and is suitable for cordage and nets, ropes, mats, baskets, etc[
454
Title
Useful Fiber Plants of the World
Publication
 
Author
Dodge C.R.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
USDA; Washington.
Year
1897
ISBN
 
Description
A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. It is also useful as a paper material[
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.
]. The tow is of a very elastic nature, and is suitable for upholstering purposes, such as stuffing mattresses or pillows[
454
Title
Useful Fiber Plants of the World
Publication
 
Author
Dodge C.R.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
USDA; Washington.
Year
1897
ISBN
 
Description
A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

A gum resembling gum tragacanth (Astragalus spp.) in appearance exudes from the trunk[
601
Title
The Useful Native Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Maiden J.H.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Turner & Co.; London.
Year
1889
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of the uses of many Australian plants and other species naturalised, or at least growing, in Australia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. This gum, however, does not thicken water, except to an almost inappreciable extent, and, therefore, could not have the same economic uses to which the very viscid tragacanth is put[
601
Title
The Useful Native Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Maiden J.H.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Turner & Co.; London.
Year
1889
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of the uses of many Australian plants and other species naturalised, or at least growing, in Australia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

An extract of the leaves is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an antioxidant, flavouring, masking agent, perfume, hair conditioner and skin conditioner[
1243
Title
CosIng
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
CosIng is the European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients.
].

A dye is obtained from the seed vessels[
601
Title
The Useful Native Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Maiden J.H.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Turner & Co.; London.
Year
1889
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of the uses of many Australian plants and other species naturalised, or at least growing, in Australia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

The heartwood is white; not clearly demarcated from the pale sapwood[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. The wood is straight-grained, coarse-textured, light in weight, soft, fibrous and not durable[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
,
601
Title
The Useful Native Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Maiden J.H.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Turner & Co.; London.
Year
1889
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of the uses of many Australian plants and other species naturalised, or at least growing, in Australia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. Like other woods of this genus it can be torn away by the finger-nail, so it can have but a very limited use[
601
Title
The Useful Native Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Maiden J.H.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Turner & Co.; London.
Year
1889
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of the uses of many Australian plants and other species naturalised, or at least growing, in Australia. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
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.
]. It is used for plywood, in model making as a substitute for balsa wood and to make hat blocks[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].

Propagation

Seed - it usually germinates well, if erratically, when pre-soaked[
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.
].

Cuttings of ripe wood[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-19. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Brachychiton+acerifolius>

Comments

Barry Biesanz 01st April 2015 0:43
I grows well at higher elevations, I've seen it flower at 1500M in CR

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