Cochlospermum tetraporum Hallier

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Bixaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cochlospermum tetraporum Hallier

  • Type

    Type. Herzog 1241 (lectotype, L; isotypes, G, S, W, Z). Bolivia. Baum im Caipipendithal, Dec 1910, (fl.). Herzog 1101 (syntype, L). Bolivia. Chuquisaca, an trockenen Hügeln des linken Pilcomayoufers bei Ibobo, Nov 1910 (fl.).

  • Synonyms

    Maximilianea tetrapora (Hallier) Blake, Cochlospermum zahlbruckneri Osterm., Maximilianea argentinensis Speg., Cochlospermum argentinense (Speg.) Hauman

  • Description

    Species Description - Tree (4-)8-20 m, 20-80 cm in diam., rather stout, glabrous except for very young parts; bark thin and separating from the stem in papery, chestnut brown layers. Leaves 5-9-foliolate, 5-11 × 7-15 cm, leaflets membranaceous, acuminate with a very fine point at the tip, plicate above the midrib, entire or slightly serrate near the apex, base gradually narrowed into a petiolule 3-10 mm long; central leaflet 4.5-11.0 × 1.3-2.4 cm, lateral leaflets shorter and somewhat asymmetric at base; petiole 5-10 cm long; stipules ca. 5 mm long. Inflorescence terminal, with 3-5 ramifications, appearing somewhat dichotomous; floral bracts ca. 2 mm long. Flowers 7-9 cm in diam. Sepals subcoriaceous, with papery margins, glabrous or minutely pubescent without, strigulose within, margin ciliolate; outer sepals 7-9 × 5-7 mm, inner sepals 10-12 × 7-8 mm. Petals obovate, apically emarginate for ca. 5 mm, 3.5-4.0 × ca. 2.3 cm, margin ciliolate. Filaments 5-8 mm long; anthers 2.5-3.5 × 0.6-0.8 mm, softly curved. Ovary glabrous, 4 mm in diam. Capsule globose, 2.5-3.5 cm in diam., acuminate, pendent; stalk 2-3 cm × 1-2 mm; outer valve glabrous, striate without, irregularly ridged within; placentae incurved, coalescent in the lower part, dissepimenta withering, placental bundles persisting; inner valve pergamentaceous, fragile, with bent margin partly contiguous with the placentae. Seeds subcochleate, 7-8 mm in diam., dorsally covered by a fringe of very fine dense hairs which appear to be combed in one direction, hairs ca. 4 mm long, fringe 2-3 mm broad, outer layer of seed-coat crustaceous and fragile.

  • Common Names

    Palo papel, Palo de papel

  • Distribution

    Woodlands of southern Bolivia and northern Argentina, alt. 4001000 m. According to Meyer (1960), it is typical for the Chaco serrano of northern Argentina, where it grows on gypsum hills. It flowers from October to December.

    Bolivia South America| Chuquisaca Bolivia South America| Argentina South America| Salta Argentina South America| Jujuy Argentina South America|