Cochlospermum Kunth

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution

A small genus of c. 15 species found across the tropics and subtropics; a single native species in New Guinea: Cochlospermum gillivraei Benth.

Morphology General Habit

Trees, shrubs and woody herbs to 7 m tall (in New Guinea), often deciduous

Morphology General

Latex sometimes present, orange or yellow. Stipules present, caducous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, chartaceous, deeply palmately lobed, glabrous (in New Guinea), margin entire, apex acuminate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal, thyrsoid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, 5-merous, showy, often on leafless branches; calyx lobes imbricate, free; petals free, yellow; stamens numerous, free, anthers dithecal, dehiscing by pores; ovary superior, sessile, carpels 3–5, 1-locular, placentation axile, ovules numerous; style simple, stigma punctate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a 3–5-valved, loculicidal capsule, pendant, the woody exocarp alternating with the membranous endocarp producing a striped effect. Seeds numerous, cochleate to reniform, covered with fine white hairs (in New Guinea).

Ecology

Cochlospermum is found in lowland south-eastern New Guinea in open woodlands.

Recognition

It can be recognised by the palmately lobed leaves, the showy yellow flowers with numerous stamens, the capsular fruit which has alternating light and dark bands of endocarp and exocarp at dehiscence and the mass of seeds with soft, white hairs.