Cochlospermum gregorii

F. Muell.

Kapok bush

Bixaceae Edible: Root 22 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A tall shrub. It grows 3-5 m high and spreads 2-4 m wide. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are 5-15 cm long by 7-18 cm wide. The leaves are deeply divided into 5-7 segments. These are sword shaped and 5-8 cm long by 3 cm wide. The flowers occur when the plant does not have leaves. The flowers are in short clusters. The flowers are yellow and 8-10 cm across. They have 5 petals and many stamens. The fruit is an oblong capsule. It is about 7 cm long. These occur in bunches. They change from green to rusty brown. They split in sections to reveal a cottony silky interior with many seeds.

Edible Uses

The taproot of young plants is cooked and eaten.

Traditional Uses

The taproot of young plants is cooked and eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It suits tropical and subtropical climates. It grows in hot, dry areas. It grows on sandy and sandstone areas.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed.

Notes

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

References (8)

Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 198
Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1984, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 3. Lothian. p 54
Flora of Australia, Volume 8, Lecythidales to Batales, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra (1982) p 87
Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 62
Levitt, D., 1981, Plants and people. Aboriginal uses of plants on Groote Eylandt. Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, Canberra. p 88

Show all 8 references

Low, T., 1991, Wild Food Plants of Australia. Australian Nature FieldGuide, Angus & Robertson. p 145
Milson, J., 2000, Trees and Shrubs of north-west Queensland. DPI p 14
Williams, K.A.W., 1999, Native Plants of Queensland Volume 4. Keith A.W. Williams North Ipswich, Australia. p 118