About Brachychiton discolor F.Muell.
Brachychiton discolor F.Muell. is an attractive tree that can grow up to 30 metres tall. It produces pink flowers that lack petals. Its trunk is straight, grey, cylindrical, and can reach 75 cm in diameter, with no buttressing at the base. Its twigs are brown, smooth, and covered in hairs. The leaves of this tree are hairy, lobed into three, five, or seven points, and measure 10 to 20 cm across. Leaves are dark green on the upper surface and whitish underneath, with visible leaf veins on both sides. Flowering occurs from November to February. The pink flowers are nearly stalkless, 3 to 4 cm in diameter, with separate male and female flowers that both lack petals. The fruit is a hairy, boat-shaped follicle that matures between December and July. It is 7 to 20 cm long, and holds up to 30 seeds, each of which is 9 mm long. Germination from fresh seed happens easily with no difficulty. Brachychiton discolor is widely planted as an ornamental tree. Indigenous Australians use its wood to make shields, and its roasted seeds are edible for humans.
