Cochlospermum gillivraei

Benth.

Kapok bush, False Kapok, Wild Cotton

Bixaceae Edible: Roots, Flowers 622 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Cochlospermum gillivraei is a tree in the family Bixaceae, with the common name kapok. It is native to Northern Australia.

Description

A tree 3-10 m high. It loses its leaves during the year. It can be without leaves for several months during the dry season. The leaves are deeply lobed. There are 5-7 oval lobes. The leaves are dark green and smooth. They are 5-7 cm long by 8-10 cm wide. The flowers are bright yellow. They appear before the new leaves. They have 5 open petals. Flowers are about 10 cm across. They occur in groups at the ends of small branches. The fruit is a capsule which is oval and 8 cm long. It splits open when ripe to release black seeds.

Edible Uses

The flower petals are eaten raw, and the tap roots of young plants are roasted and eaten.

Traditional Uses

The flower petals are eaten raw. The tap roots of young plants are roasted and eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate locations. It grows in stony places in drier regions. It needs well-drained soil and a sunny position. In north Queensland it grows from sea level to 600 m altitude. It is damaged by frost or drought.

Where It Grows

Australia*, Papua New Guinea, PNG,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Seeds take up to 3 months to germinate. The seeds are separated from the woolly fibres and soaked for 24 hours before sowing.

Notes

There are about 20 Cochlospermum species. Also put in the family Cochlospermaceae.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Root	81.2	—	—	3.5	—	6	—	—

Synonyms

Maximilianea gillivraei (Benth.) Kuntze

References (18)

Barwick, M., 2004, Tropical and Subtropical Trees. A Worldwide Encyclopedic Guide. Thames and Hudson p 124
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 269
Calvert, G., 2010, The Burdekin Delta Tree Guide. Lower Burdekin Landcare Association., Inc., Ayr p 57
Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 198
Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 91

Show all 18 references

Croft, J.R., in Henty, E.E., (Ed.), 1981, Handbooks of the Flora of Papua New Guinea, Melbourne University Press, p 28
Cronin, L., 1989, The Concise Australian Flora. Reed. p 168
Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1984, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 3. Lothian. p 54
Fl. austral. 1:106. 1863
Flora of Australia, Volume 8, Lecythidales to Batales, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra (1982) p 86
Hinton, B & B., 1982, A Wilderness in Bloom. Wildflowers of tropical Australia. p 26
Jones D, L, 1986, Ornamental Rainforest Plants in Australia, Reed Books, p 208
Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 62
Low, T., 1991, Wild Food Plants of Australia. Australian Nature FieldGuide, Angus & Robertson. p 145
Scarth-Johnson, V., 2000, National Treasures. Flowering Plants of Cooktown and Northern Australia. Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery Association. Cooktown, Australia. p 78
Tiwi Plants and Animals. 2001, Aboriginal flora and fauna knowledge from Bathurst and Melville Islands, northern Australia. Northern Territory Botanical Bulletin; No. 24 p 40
Townsend, K., 1994, Across the Top. Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch Inc. p 137
Townsend, K., 1999, Field Guide to Plants of the Dry Tropics. Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch Inc. p 35