Brachychiton populneus, commonly known as the kurrajong,[1] 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. Carrejun and carrejan were the indigenous names of trees in the foothills of the Blue Mountains near Sydney, and the bark was used for twine and fishing lines.[2] The extended trunk is a water storage device 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
A large adult kurrajong, B. populneus, in regional NSW, Australia
The kurrajong has multiple uses and was used by many Australian Aboriginal clans and tribes around Australia. The seeds located in a seed pod were often removed, cleaned of the fine hairs within the seed pod, and roasted.[3] Water could be obtained from the tree roots by boring a hole in the trunk and squeezing the wood.[4] There are also records of the seed pods being turned into a children's rattle or toy. 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-affected animal stock. There are also records of European settlers using the seeds as a coffee supplement by roasting and crushing the seeds.[3]
The specific name Brachychiton populneus pertains to a perceived similarity to the Populus genus, i.e. the poplars. Sometimes B. populneus is also known by the names "lacebark kurrajong" and "bottle tree" (USA). However, B. discolor is also referred to as the lacebark kurrajong, and Bottle Tree is a term commonly applied not only to other species of Brachychiton but to members of other genera around the world.
brachychiton, populneus, commonly, known, kurrajong, small, medium, sized, tree, found, naturally, australia, diversity, habitats, from, wetter, coastal, districts, semi, arid, interiors, victoria, south, wales, queensland, carrejun, carrejan, were, indigenous. Brachychiton populneus commonly known as the kurrajong 1 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 Carrejun and carrejan were the indigenous names of trees in the foothills of the Blue Mountains near Sydney and the bark was used for twine and fishing lines 2 The extended trunk is a water storage device 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 KurrajongA large adult kurrajong B populneus in regional NSW AustraliaScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder MalvalesFamily MalvaceaeGenus BrachychitonSpecies B populneusBinomial nameBrachychiton populneus Schott amp Endl R Br The kurrajong has multiple uses and was used by many Australian Aboriginal clans and tribes around Australia The seeds located in a seed pod were often removed cleaned of the fine hairs within the seed pod and roasted 3 Water could be obtained from the tree roots by boring a hole in the trunk and squeezing the wood 4 There are also records of the seed pods being turned into a children s rattle or toy 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 affected animal stock There are also records of European settlers using the seeds as a coffee supplement by roasting and crushing the seeds 3 It has been introduced as an ornamental tree to south western Australia South Africa Louisiana California Arizona and Mediterranean countries In Western Australia it was observed to be an invasive in disturbed areas Horticulturists have hybridised the kurrajong with related Brachychiton species including the Queensland bottle tree B rupestris and Illawarra flame tree B acerifolius to produce new garden ornamentals citation needed The specific name Brachychiton populneus pertains to a perceived similarity to the Populus genus i e the poplars Sometimes B populneus is also known by the names lacebark kurrajong and bottle tree USA However B discolor is also referred to as the lacebark kurrajong and Bottle Tree is a term commonly applied not only to other species of Brachychiton but to members of other genera around the world kurrajong flowers in Gran CanariaThe kurrajong has been recorded as a host plant for the mistletoe species Dendrophthoe glabrescens 5 Gallery edit nbsp B populneus flowers and leaves nbsp Bark detail on trunk nbsp B populneus flowers and leaves nbsp Opened seed pod of Brachychiton populneus in Agadir Morocco nbsp Planted in 1902References edit Floyd A G Rainforest Trees of Mainland South eastern Australia 1989 p391 Sarskens G People of the River 2020 p180 a b Low Tim 1988 Wild Food Plants of Australia Angus amp Robertson p 183 ISBN 0 207 14383 8 Ngarigo Plant Use in the snow River Catchment Downey Paul O 1998 An inventory of host species for each aerial mistletoe species Loranthaceae and Viscaceae in Australia PDF Cunninghamia 5 3 685 720 Archived from the original PDF on 2012 04 26 Macoboy S 1991 What tree is that ISBN 1 86302 131 0External links edit nbsp Media related to Brachychiton populneus at Wikimedia Commons Austral Ecology Invasion of urban bushland Note on economic value B populneus Australian National Botanic Gardens Horticultural notes Archived 2008 09 28 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brachychiton populneus amp oldid 1186925318, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
