Golden Rain

Koelreuteria elegans subsp. formosana

Golden Rain Tree

DESCRIPTION

Medium-sized tree 5-12m tall with rough greyishbrown bark furrowed lengthwise. Large bipinnate leaves 25-60cm long by 15-44cm wide arranged alternately along stems; 8-17 lanceolate to ovate leaflets 5.5-10cm long by 1.3-4cm wide with entire to irregularly toothed margins and long pointed tips; petiolules to 3mm long.

FLOWERS AND FRUIT

Large terminal branched clusters 30-50cm long by 20-25cm wide of 4-5 petalled yellow flowers appearing late spring to late summer. Inflated three-sided papery ellipsoidal three-sided capsules are initially bright red to deep rose-purple, fading to pink and eventually brown. Each capsule contains six globose to pyriform black seeds.

HABITAT AND RANGE

Coastal districts of northeast New South Wales to Noosa in Queensland.