IMAGINE a tree which is drought tolerant but doesn’t lose its limbs.
A tree with green bark, which sheds its leaves before erupting into a full display of red flowers.
I believe many of us will have seen the Illawarra Flame Trees in flower for a month or two by now.
They continue to flower magnificently, and hold our attention, often planted on driveways or even on roundabouts. Did you know there are many species in the same genus, with equally amazing flowers?
Or that this group of plants, the Kurrajongs (Brachychitons) are important for various aspects of indigenous life?
“Brachy” means split, and “chiton” means armour.
This name is in reference to the splitting seed pods which all members of the genus share.
The name Kurrajong is an indigenous name which, at least in the language of the Dharung people in the Sydney area, refers to the fibres which are made from the bark of the Brachychiton species which occurs in that area.
Other uses include being able to eat the roasted seeds, once harvested carefully to avoid the irritating hairs.
These seeds occur in large amounts on the trees, with different species being harvestable at different times.
Young individual Kurrajongs were also often picked for their edible taproot.
Usually growing in slightly drier areas than ours, the trunks of the Bottle Tree (Brachychiton australis) and the Narrow-leaved Bottle Tree (Brachychiton rupestris) can be tapped for drinkable water.
In our area, around the Glasshouse Mountains and Maleny, there are at least four naturally occurring species of Kurrajong.
They are; Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius), Dwarf Kurrajong (Brachychiton bidwillii), Lacebark (Brachychiton discolor), and the simply named, Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus.)
Of these species, only the Illawarra Flame Tree and the Dwarf Kurrajong are commonly seen growing wild.
The other two species have lost a lot of habitat, and are not as commonly seen in the wild anymore.
I could list so many great things about the Kurrajongs.
The different species of birds which feed on their seeds and nectar.
The spectacular flowers of all the different species, but I will end by praising their suitability for gardens.
The Dwarf Kurrajong will fit almost any garden in our area, and can be pruned easily.
The Illawarra Flame Tree is beautifully straight and showy.
I hope you’ve learned a little more about this amazing group of plants, and are inspired to learn more about them.
As always, Mooloolah River Landcare has Brachychitons which you can buy, or simply learn more about, by chatting with us.