Scientific Name : Brachychiton acerifolius (A. Cunn.) Macarthur & C. Moore
Common Name : Flame Bottletree
Chinese Name : 槭葉蘋婆
Family : STERCULIACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species
| Origins | New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. |
|---|---|
| Meanings of name | The generic name Brachychiton means short tunic, alluding to its overlapping bristles on seeds. The specific epithet acerifolius and the Chinese common name ‘槭葉’ refers to its maple-like leaves. |
| Vitality | Flame Bottletree prefers subtropical climate, with drought and full-sun weather. The roots are easily rotted and extremely susceptible to waterlogged soils. |
| Application |
The seeds are esculent and always roasted for food in its native range. Fibre extracted from the inner bark can be used for making fishing nets and fishing lines. The leaf extracts are the ingredients of antioxidants, perfumes and skin conditioners. Although its Chinese name is similar to ‘假蘋婆’ (Sterculia lanceolata; Lance-leaved Sterculia) and ‘蘋婆’ (Sterculia monosperma; Common Sterculia), they are phylogenetically distinct from each other. Compared with the flowers of Lance-leaved Sterculia and Common Sterculia, those of Flame Bottletree are highlighted in appealing scarlet flowers. In Hong Kong, Flame Bottletree is prolific, demonstrating an astonishingly long period of floral display, blooming for almost half of a year. During the flowering seasons, the flamboyant scarlet flowers profusely embellish the crown and carpet the road when dropped. Interestingly, the ornamental effect can be bolstered when the rainfall of last winter was limited. |
| Growing habit | Deciduous tree. |
|---|---|
| Height | To 15 m tall (35 m in the wild). |
| Stems | Bark grey, smooth, with observable leaf scars. Branchlets green. |
| Leaves | Simple leaves alternate. Blades glabrous, variable in shapes, mature trees always ovate and entire, while juvenile trees always palmate with 3-7 lobes. |
| Flowers | Monecious. Panicles terminal on leafless branchlets. Flowers without petals, sepals 5, partially fused, campanulate, scarlet. |
| Fruits | Capsules woody, dark brown or dark when ripe. |
| Seed | Seeds brownish yellow, covered with stinging bristles. |
| Flowering period | April in Hong Kong. |
| Fruiting period | / |
Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website :
https://herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=7854
Scientific names from other databases :
― GBIF : Brachychiton acerifolius (A. Cunn. ex G. Don) F. Muell.
― Plant of the World Online : Brachychiton acerifolius (A. Cunn. ex G. Don) F. Muell.