Brachychiton fitzgeraldianus Guymer

Scientific Description

Tree, with hairy stems. Leaves 100-200 mm long, 95-130 mm wide, not lobed; margins entire; hairy, with stellate hairswith scales absent, Sessile glands absent; stipules present but early deciduous (only visible on youngest leaves). Perianth of one whorl only (the visible whorl is a calyx, sometimes petaloid). Pedicel present, 8-15 mm long; indumentum present, with absent, with stellate hairs present, with gland tipped hairs absent, with scales absent. Epicalyx (extra segments or 'bracteoles' immediately below the calyx) absent. Calyx green, 35-55 mm long, the lobes fused half or more of their length, Sessile glands absent, stellate hairs present, scales absent, Terminal appendages absent, number of ribs absent. Stamens many, united and arising from a staminal tube around the style; filaments present or absent (anthers sessile); anthers 2.8-3 mm long, indumentum absent (anthers glabrous). Staminodes present, appendages absent. Ovary hairs or scales present, simple hairs present, stellate hairs present, gland-tipped hairs absent; styles several, free and separate, arising from the summit of the ovary, 18-20 mm long, with one or five style branches or lobes, hairy for most of length, wing absent. Fruits indehiscent and splitting into sections (schizocarps), length-width ratio at least 1.5 times as long as wide, mericarps smooth, hairs and scales absent; apex rounded; prickles absent (except perhaps a terminal awn); terminal awns or spines absent; calyx deciduous before maturity, not accrescent; carpels 5; seeds per loculus 2-4 or ≥5. Flowering time August, September, October or November. Distribution Botanical Province Northern, IBRA Bioregion North Kimberley, Victoria Bonaparte and Central Kimberley.