No. 268. 
^ Brachychiton discolor F.v.M. 
'.' ;: - ,; A Lace-bark Tree. 
(Family STERCULIACEyE.) 
Botanical description. Genus Brachychiton, see Part LXII, p. 39. 
Botanical description. Species discolor F.v.M., in Mueller's Fragmenta Austra- 
liensis, i, i (1858). 
A tall tree, the young shoots tomentose. Leaves very broadly cordate, nearly orbicular, shortly 
acuminate, angular, or very shortly and irregularly five or seven-lobed, glabrous above, white underneath, 
with a very close tomentum, mostly 4: to 6 inches diameter. Flowers (if correctly matched) like those of 
B. ramiflora, and similarly clustered. Calyx H to 2 inches long, broadly campanulate, tomentose inside 
and out, divided to the middle into broad lobes with induplicate margins. Follicles very shortly stipulate, 
4 to 6 inches long, acuminate, densely rusty-tomentose outside (as Sterculia in B. PL, i, 223) . 
Botanical Name. Brachychiton, see Part LXII, p. 39. The specific name 
lurida is in allusion to the dull, lurid appearance of the flowers. 
Vernacular Name. It is often called " Sycamore." The name " Sycamore " 
is given to our tree because of a fancied resemblance of its wood to that of the Sycamore 
(Acer Pseudo-platanus) of Europe. The other local name, Hat-tree, is used because 
the fibre from the inner bark is used in making hats, but this will be alluded to presently . 
The word " Kurrajong " is from an aboriginal source (often spelt Coryjong in old books), 
and signifies " fibre." All the Sterculias and Brachychitons are useful fibre plants, 
and the name Kurrajong is applied generally to many of them. It as fairly belongs 
to the Hat-tree as to any of them, but although I have made diligent inquiry I cannot 
trace any districts in which our tree is called " Kurrajong." Perhaps my readers 
can give the information on the subject, as it is often difficult to trace local names, 
but also to state in what districts they stand current. The matter will become 
increasingly difficult, as some of our native trees, formerly well-known to settlers in 
particular districts, become scarce, and the existence and names of them have been 
forgotten. 
