Common Name: Bottle Tree

General Information

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[, ].
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[].
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[].

Known 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[].

Botanical References

Range

Australia - Queensland.

Habitat

Dry plains[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the subtropical to tropical regions of Australia, it can tolerate a range of climates although it may be slow growing in cooler climes. It grows in a climate with plenty of rain in the wet season, but this is followed by a long dry season[]. Plants can tolerate occasional frosts with temperatures as low as -7°c[].
Requires a sunny position. Tolerates a range of soils so long as they are well-drained. Thrives in acidic soils[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[, ].
A moderately fast-growing tree if it gets sufficient moisture[].
The bottle shaped trunk may start to be noticeable at around 5 - 8 years of age.
The trees, even when decades old, can tolerate robust transplantation. Plants have survived a period of three months between removal and being planted in their new location[].

Edible Uses

The name of the bottle tree can be taken literally, as there is a significant amount of water stored between the inner bark and the trunk. Aboriginals historically carved holes into the soft bark to create reservoir-like structures[, ].
The soft juicy tissue of the stem can be eaten - it is said that many a wanderer in the bush has staved off hunger by
its means[].

The stem abounds in a mucilaginous substance resembling pure gum tragacanth (Astragalus spp.) in appearance[]. Wholesome and nutritious, it is used as an article of food by the Australian Aborigines in cases of extreme need[]. A similar clear jelly is obtainable by pouring boiling water on chips of the wood[].

Seeds - raw[, ]. Roasted[].

Roots of young trees[, ]. Agreeable and refreshing[]. It is unclear whether or not the Aborigines prepared the root in any way before consumption[]. The yam-like tuberous root is often much broader than the stem above it[].

Young stems[, , ]. Agreeable and refreshing[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The fibrous inner bark is used to make twine or rope and can be woven together to make nets[].

A gum resembling gum tragacanth (Astragalus spp.) in appearance is obtained from the trunk[]. 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[].

Propagation

Seed - fresh seed is relatively easy to germinate without the need for any pre-treatment. If dried seed is soaked in warm water for 12 - 24 hours prior to sowing it then germinates easily[].

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