''Cochlospermum fraseri'' is a tree in the family

Bixaceae The Bixaceae are a family of dicotyledonous plants commonly called the achiote family. Under the Cronquist system, the family was traditionally placed in the order Violales. However, newer arrangements move it, with some other families previousl ...

with

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...

s cotton tree, kapok bush, and kapok tree. It is native to north western Australia (in

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

and the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...

Taxonomy

French botanist

Jules Émile Planchon Jules Émile Planchon (21 March 1823 – 1 April 1888) was a French botanist born in Ganges, Hérault. Biography After receiving his Doctorate of Science at the University of Montpellier in 1844, he worked for a while at the Royal Botanic Garde ...

described this species in 1847 from Melville Island off the north coast of Australia. Two subspecies are recognised: subspecies ''fraseri'', found mainly from Katherine to Melville Island, has smooth leaves and 2 mm-long bracts, and subspecies ''heteronemum'', from Katherine west to the Ord River, has finely furred leaves and 40–58 mm-long bracts.

Description

''Cochlospermum fraseri'' is a deciduous tree or shrub which can grow to 7 m tall. It flowers from April to October (March to August), the inflorescence being a terminal panicle. The flower is asymmetric, having five sepals in two whorls, with the outer two sepals being shorter than the inner three. It has numerous stamens. The flowers often appear when the plant has no leaves. It fruits from June to March, with the fruit being a woody capsule having 3 to 5 valves. The seed is surrounded by fluffy, "cottony" threads, giving rise to the common name, ''kapok tree''.

Distribution and habitat

It is found in the bioregions of

Central Kimberley The Central Kimberley, an interim Australian bioregion, is located in the central Kimberley region of Western Australia, comprising an area of .

Dampierland Dampierland is an interim Australian bioregion in Western Australia.IBRA Version 6.1

Gulf Fall and Uplands The Gulf Fall and Uplands, an interim Australian bioregion, is located in the Northern Territory and Queensland,

Northern Kimberley The Northern Kimberley, an interim Australian bioregion, is located in the northern Kimberley region of Western Australia,Ord Victoria Plain The Ord Victoria Plain, an interim Australian bioregion, is located in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, comprising .

, Pine Creek,

Victoria Bonaparte The Victoria Bonaparte, an interim Australian bioregion, is located in the Northern Territory and Western Australia,

in the

., and the bioregions of

Central Kimberley The Central Kimberley, an interim Australian bioregion, is located in the central Kimberley region of Western Australia, comprising an area of .

Dampierland Dampierland is an interim Australian bioregion in Western Australia.IBRA Version 6.1

Great Sandy Desert The Great Sandy Desert is an interim Australian bioregion,IBRA Version 6.1
data

Victoria Bonaparte The Victoria Bonaparte, an interim Australian bioregion, is located in the Northern Territory and Western Australia,

in Western Australia. ''Cochlospermum fraseri'' grows in open eucalypt woodland on a variety of soils, including sands, gravelly soils, and heavy clay soils.

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 The Jawoyn, also written Djauan, are an Australian Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory of Australia. The Bagala clan are of the Jawoyn people. Language Jawoyn, known as Kumertuo, is a non- Pama–Nyungan language that belongs t ...

people: flowering indicates when freshwater crocodiles are laying eggs, fruiting the time for collecting them.

Gallery

Kapok3839674626 48e20e6274 o.jpg KapokCochlospermumfraseri3841865187 6bceccbf9c o.jpg Cochlospermum fraseri fruit.jpg

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15475555 fraseri Plants described in 1847 Taxa named by Jules Émile Planchon