Thursday 23 February 2012

MELBOURNE STREET TREES 10

Brachychiton discolor is a rainforest tree of eastern Australia of the family Sterculiaceae. It grows in drier rainforest areas. Scattered from Paterson, New South Wales (32° S) to Mackay, Queensland (21° S). There's also an isolated community of these trees at Cape York Peninsula.  Common names include Lacebark Tree, Lace Kurrajong, Pink Kurrajong, Scrub Bottle Tree, White Kurrajong, Hat Tree and Sycamore.

It is an attractive tree up to 30 metres tall featuring pink flowers without petals. The trunk is straight, grey and cylindrical, up to 75 cm in diameter. The tree flowers from November to February. The flowers are pink, almost without stalks, 3 to 4 cm in diameter. There are separate male and female flowers. The fruit is a hairy boat shaped follicle maturing from December to July, 7 to 20 cm long, containing up to 30 seeds, 9 mm long. Germination from fresh seed occurs without difficulty.

This is an unusual tree in Melbourne, however, it grows well and flowers prolifically. Perhaps it should be planted more as it is highly attractive and the flowers and seed pods are very beautiful.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.


Clusters of large showy flowers are typical of this tree
Honeyeaters love the nectar of these flowers
The flowers are large and feel as though they are made of soft cloth
They fall down to the ground
...And will not wither for some days

11 comments:

  1. That is a gorgeous tree! I'd want one in my yard.

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  2. Oh, a gorgeous tree it is indeed! And such exquisite, colorful blossoms! Superb captures as always Nick! Thanks for sharing the beauty! Hope your week is going well!

    Sylvia

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  3. These blossoms are beautiful! What lovely shape and color they have.

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  4. This tree blossoms look very strong as well as beautiful.

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  5. Lovely flowers.
    This almost looks like our Indian fragipani flower trees.

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  6. What a fine post! «Louis» enjoyed seeing the flowers and the bird - nice capture.
    ;-D

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  7. Very nice photos.

    Regards and best wishes

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  8. Your first photo of these beautiful flowers is very artsy:) They must be very sturdy to keep from wilting for a few days!

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  9. Very beautiful flowers and tree!!
    Never seen a tree like this one before.
    Maybe I should relocate from Canada to Australia
    especially on a cold and rainy day in February:)
    Great shots and information I always appreciate.
    - Cheers.

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  10. Hallo.
    Beautiful pictures / great blog.
    I tilf'jet me as follows.
    Wishing you a good Sunday.
    / Hanne Bent
    hbt.finus.dk - My photoblog
    finus.dk - "Crazy life"

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