Cochlospermum gregorii
F. Muell.
Kapok bush
(c) Russell Cumming, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) Russell Cumming, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) Russell Cumming, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Root
The taproot of young plants is cooked and eaten.
Where to Find It
It suits tropical and subtropical climates. It grows in hot, dry areas. It grows on sandy and sandstone areas.
Australia*,
How to Identify
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.
How to Grow
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
- 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
