Cochlospermum

• Authority

  Poppendieck, Hans-Helmut. 1981. Cochlospermaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 27: 1-34. (Published by NYBG Press)

• Family

  Bixaceae

• Scientific Name

  Cochlospermum

• Type

  Type species. Cochlospermum religiosum (Linnaeus) Alston from India, which is homotypic with C. gossypium (Linnaeus) A. P. de Candolle.

• Synonyms

  Maximilianea, Wittelsbachia, Azeredia, Lachnocistus Duchass. ex Linden & Planch., Cochlospermum religiosum L., Cochlospermum gossypium (L.) DC.

• Description

  Genus Description - Trees, shrubs or suffrutices with subterranean rootstocks. Leaves palmatisect or palmatiparted, with 5-9 lobes; stipules subulate. Flowers actinomorphic, 5-15 cm in diameter. Sepals dimorphic, arranged sub-quincuncially, the outer two shorter, ovate-lanceolate, the inner three broadly ovate and often asymmetric, with papery margins, contorted in bud. Petals obovate, cuneate, more or less deeply emarginate at apex, contorted in bud in opposite direction as the inner sepals, glabrous, rarely ciliolate at margin, yellow, often with fine red stripes or marks. Stamens equal, numerous. Seeds cochleate to reniform, hairy Type species. Cochlospermum religiosum (Linnaeus) Alston from India, which is homotypic with C. gossypium (Linnaeus) A. P. de Candolle.