Em. Prof. Dave Rowell - ‘A whirlwind tour of Brachychiton: Kurrajongs, Flame Trees, Queensland Bottle Trees and their relatives’

In this talk Dave, from ANU will describe the origins and diversity of Brachychiton group and focus on some of the particularly interesting and iconic species.

Abstract
There are about 40 species of Brachychiton found on the Australian mainland, and two species found in Papua New Guinea. This genus includes the kurrajongs as well as other iconic species trees such as the Queensland bottle tree, the Queensland lacebark and the Illawarra flame tree. Brachychiton species freely hybridise in nature, and many natural hybrids have also been documented. Brachychiton appears to have evolved in northern Australia, spreading across the country when the climate was more benign than it is today. Species of this genus have evolved a number of characteristics that allow them to survive across Australia’s variable, and often harsh environments, including the ability to store water, being facultatively and dry season deciduous, and having photosynthetic branches and trunks.  In this talk Dave Rowell will describe the origins and diversity of Brachychiton group and focus on some of the particularly interesting and iconic species.

Biography 
Dave is an Emeritus Professor at the ANU. His research has involved systematics and phylogenetics of a number of Australian native species. Dave has had a long held fascination with the evolution and biology of Brachychitons and their relatives.

Booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/COBID

Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated. 

Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.

It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached. 

The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.