Brachychiton rupestris (Queensland bottle tree)

Brachychiton rupestris (T.Mitch. ex Lindl.) K.Schum.

Sterculia rupestris (T.Mitch. ex Lindl.) Benth.

Delabechea rupestris T.Mitch. ex Lindl.

Clompanus rupestris (T.Mitch. ex Lindl.) Kuntze

Brachychiton delabechei F.Muell. [Illegitimate]

Queensland bottle tree

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Malvales	Includes cacao, balsa, lime, linden, basswood, daphnes, hibiscus, hollyhocks, okra, baobab, cotton, kapok, and many others
Family	Malvaceae	Includes okra, jute, cacao, hibiscus, many others
Genus	Brachychiton	Bottletrees—31 species of trees and large shrubs, mostly Australian
Species	rupestris

About plant names...

The Queensland bottle tree, native to eastern Australia, is named for its remarkable trunk. Brachychiton (roughly “short covering”) refers to a coating on the seeds, and rupestris means that it is found growing among rocks. This tree is not found in the wild in North America.

Identification: This tree can reach 70' (21 m), but is usually under 40' (12 m). The bottle shape, which develops only after 5-8 years, can reach a diameter of more than 6' (1.8 m). Flowers are yellow, in clusters. Fruits are woody, shaped like canoes.

By Bigee

Online References:

Brachychiton rupestris at the Australian Government's Australian National Botanic Gardens

Brachychiton rupestris on Wikipedia

Brachychiton rupestris on Desert-tropicals.com

Brachychiton rupestris at the Encyclopedia of Stanford Trees, Shrubs and Vines

Brachychiton rupestris description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

2/26/2010 · San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA

5/25/2009 · Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, AZ
≈ 9 × 14' (2.8 × 4.1 m)

2/26/2010 · San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA

Range: Zones 9-11:

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