Brachychiton acerifolius

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Brachychiton acerifolius, commonly known as the Illawarra flame tree or flame tree, is a large, deciduous tree in the Malvaceae family. It is native to the eastern coast of Australia, from southern New South Wales to far northern Queensland, where it grows in coastal forests from sea level up to about 1,000 meters.

What it looks like:
- It can reach about 30–35 meters tall in the wild.
- The trunk is smooth and greenish-gray.
- Leaves are glossy, up to 30 cm long, and highly variable in shape; they can be simple or lobed.
- In spring, the tree drops its leaves and is covered with masses of bright red to scarlet, bell-shaped flowers. The flowers are about 1–1.2 inches long with five petals fused at the base.
- After flowering, it forms dark brown, leathery pods about 10 cm long. Inside are 12–26 yellow seeds with a papery aril and stiff hairs that can irritate skin.

Growing and uses:
- It is popular as an ornamental tree around Australia and the world. It is easy to grow from seed, cuttings, or by grafting.
- In New South Wales, it is listed as an ornamental tree that may be removed without council permission in some areas (such as Northern Beaches).
- The seeds of Brachychiton species are edible for Indigenous Australians when the irritating hairs are removed. They are nutritious, with notable amounts of protein and fat, and contain minerals like zinc and magnesium. Roots of young trees are also eaten.

Ecology:
- The Illawarra flame tree supports various butterfly species as a host plant.
- Birds such as Australian king parrots and bowerbirds feed on the seeds.

Taxonomy and name:
- Brachychiton acerifolius belongs to the genus Brachychiton in the Malvaceae family. The genus name comes from Greek words meaning “short tunic,” referring to the seed coat, and the species name acerifolius suggests maple-like leaves.
- The tree has had several scientific names in the past as classifications evolved, and it was first described in 1855. The current spelling uses a masculine form of the genus name, hence acerifolius.