Cochlospermum regium (Schrank) Pilg.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Bixaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cochlospermum regium (Schrank) Pilg.

  • Type

    Type. Martius s.n. (neotype, M), Brasilia, inter Riacho de Foco et Arr. de Formiga. This collection had apparently served for the elaborate description of Wittelsbachia insignis, a nomenclatural synonym of Maximilianea regia. The original description of M. regia by Schrank was based on a manuscript of Martius and on young living plants raised in the Botanic Garden of Munich. No material bearing Schrank s handwriting could be traced.

  • Synonyms

    Maximilianea regia Schrank, Wittelsbachia insignis Mart., Cochlospermum insigne A.St.-Hil., Azeredia pernambucana Arruda ex Allemão, Cochlospermum insigne var. pohlianum Eichler & A.St.-Hil., Amoreuxia unipora Tiegh., Cochlospermum insigne var. mattogrossense Pilg. & A.St.-Hil., Maximilianea regia var. mattogrossensis (Pilg.) Blake & Schrank, Maximilianea regia var. glaberrima Chodat & Hassl., Cochlospermum trilobum Standl.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Low suffrutex, annual shoots 0.5-2.0(-2.5) m high, arising from a geotropic, water storing trunk up to 1.4 m deep (the xylopodium); young branches dark brown, becoming pale. Leaves 3-5(-7)-lobed, 3.5-9.0 x 5.5-14 cm, base cordate with lateral lobes overlapping, lobes elliptic-ovate, obtuse or acute, minutely to strongly serrate, basally connate for 10-20% of their length, plicate above the midrib, outer lobes considerably shorter than the central ones; upper surface glabrous, rarely pubescent, lower surface glabrous, or pubescent throughout or only on the principal nerves; petiole 5-10 cm long, glabrous; stipules filiform, ca. 1 cm long. Few flowered panicles or racemes either terminating the already defoliated annual shoot, or, after the destruction of the upper parts by fire or other means, appearing from the subterranean trunk at ground level; floral bracts narrowly triangular to lanceolate, 2-3 × 6-12 mm. Flowers 7-9 cm in diameter. Sepals pubescent outside and fine strigose within, outer sepals 12-14 × 7-9 mm, inner sepals ca. 15 x 13 mm wide. Petals ovate-subquadrate, apically emarginate for ca. 3 mm. Filaments 5-25 mm long, yellow; anthers 4-5 mm long, curved, with one roundish-subquadrate apical pore 0.2 mm wide, and two smaller basal pores. Ovary 3-4(-5)-carpellate, 2-3 mm in diam., style incurved, ca. 15 mm long. Capsule mostly pendent, usually one per ramification, ovate in outline, acute, truncate, 4-6 × 2.5-3.0 cm; stalk glabrous, 2.4-4.0 cm × 1.5 mm; outer valve pubescent to glabrous, blackish-grey to chestnut; placentae straight or only slightly incurved, thin and fragile; inner valve elliptic, fragile, translucent, ebony. Seeds reniform with narrow sinus to subcochleate, ca 5.0-6.3 × 4.0-5.3 mm, outer layer of seed coat adhering or fragile and easily removable, seed hairs white.

  • Discussion

    According to St.-Hilaire, a decoction of the root is used by the inhabitants of Paracatu against internal pains, especially those which are the consequence of falls or other accidents.

    Cochlospermum regium is rather variable, especially in leaf-shape, indumentum, mode of branching (from single-stemmed to highly ramified shrubs), and, most notably, mode of flowering. The normal position of the flowers is at the top of the leafy shoots; however when the aerial parts are destroyed by fire, the flowers appear at ground level. I have found no fruits which have developed from flowers at ground level in the material examined. Either these flowers do not set fruit, or the low and inconspicuous plants do not attract the attention of collectors.

  • Common Names

    Algodão de campo, Algodão bravo, Butua do curvo, Piriquiteira

  • Distribution

    Predominant in the Cerrado vegetation of Brazil, extending into Bolivia and Paraguay. Flowers mostly in leafless condition from May to September.

    Brazil South America| Mato Grosso Brazil South America| Goiás Brazil South America| Distrito Federal Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| São Paulo Brazil South America| Paraná Brazil South America| Bolivia South America| Santa Cruz Bolivia South America| Paraguay South America|