Brachychiton gregorii F.Muell.
Desert Kurrajong

Scientific Description

Tree, with glabrous stems. Leaves 100-155 mm long, 45-150 mm wide, tripartitely lobed or palmately lobed, simply (once-)lobed; margins entire; hairs and scales absent (leaves quite glabrous), 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, 3-4 mm long; glabrous. Epicalyx (extra segments or 'bracteoles' immediately below the calyx) absent. Calyx green, cream, yellow or red, 8-10 mm long, the lobes fused less than half 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 absent (anthers sessile); anthers 0.8-2 mm long, indumentum absent (anthers glabrous). Staminodes present, appendages absent. Ovary hairs or scales present, simple hairs absent, stellate hairs present, gland-tipped hairs absent; styles several, free and separate, arising from the summit of the ovary, 2-3.2 mm long, with 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 present; calyx deciduous before maturity, not accrescent; carpels 5; seeds per loculus 2-4 or ≥5. Flowering time January, November or December. Distribution Botanical Province Eremaean or South-West, IBRA Bioregion Pilbara, Carnarvon, Gascoyne, Little Sandy Desert, Gibson Desert, Central Ranges, Yalgoo, Murchison, Great Victorian Desert, Coolgardie, Geraldton Sandplains and Avon Wheatbelt.