Cochlospermum fraseri

Planch.

Kapok bush flowers, Yellow flowered kapok

Bixaceae Edible: Root, Flowers 537 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

iNaturalist· cc-by

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Cochlospermum fraseri is a tree in the family Bixaceae with common names cotton tree, kapok bush, and kapok tree. It is native to northwestern Australia from the Kimberly region of Western Australia to the northern parts of the Northern Territory.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows up to 6 m high. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves have 2 lobes at the base. The blade is 5-10 cm long by 7-15 cm wide. It has 3-7 broad lobes which vary in shape. The edges of the leaf have shallow teeth. The leaf stalk is 6-13 cm long. The flowers are large and yellow. They are 5.5-8 cm across. They occur at the ends of branches in bunches 30 cm long. The fruit is a smooth long woody capsule. It is 5.5-8 cm long by 3.5-4 cm wide. It is brown and splits when ripe. There are many seeds which are kidney shaped. These are amongst a mass of cotton fibres.

Edible Uses

The indigenous people of northern Australia would eat the flowers, either raw or cooked, and the roots of young plants. They also used to use the fluff from the seeds as body decoration. This plant is a "calendar" plant of the Jawoyn people: flowering indicates when freshwater crocodiles are laying eggs, fruiting the time for collecting them.

Traditional Uses

The fattened roots or tubers of young plants are eaten. Flowers are eaten raw or cooked.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows as an understorey plant in open forest. It needs well-drained soil. It grows in the tropics in Australia. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

It can be grown from seed. Seed take 1-3 months to germinate. They can also be grown from tubers. Tubers produce a number of shoots.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as ripe, it can take up to 3 months to germinate. Plants quickly produce a deep taproot and so the seedlings need to be transferred to deep pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Cuttings of leafy shoots.

Notes

There are about 12 Cochlospermum species. Also put in the family Cochlospermaceae.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Flower	86.7	243	58	1.4	—	35	4.8	1.6

Also Known As

Gulun, Malindjarr

References (29)

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Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 398
Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1984, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 3. Lothian. p 54

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