Cochlospermum vitifolium - Brazilian rose
Family:
Native to:
Habitat:
Bixaceae
Central America, northern South America, the Caribbean.
Tropical dry forests and savannas. Up to 1490 meters above sea level. 15 meter tall tree.
Ecological value:
Fast growing pioneer good for restoring native woodlands. Attracts pollinators such as bees and other insects. Drought tolerant. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Easy to propagate from cutting - can be used in live fences.
Material uses:
Floss from seed as stuffing material, utilized in pillows which are said to
induce sleep. Fiber obtained from bark used as cordage. Gum from the inner bark. Wood is soft and lightweight and is suitable for making boxes and paper pulp.
Edible uses:
Beverage similar to beer (‘Chicha”) made from juice of plant.
Medicinal use:
No record on this species.
Other details:
Aggressive pioneer specie that produces flowers by its second year and can take hold quickly in other disturbed habitats. Known as Buttercup tree. C. tinctorium (Africa) has been used as a yellow dye for leather and textiles.
Research:
Maria Camila Misle/Christine Facella
Sources:
“Cochlospermum Vitifolium (Willd.) Spreng. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science.” n.d. Plants of the World Online. Accessed November 27, 2023. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:111539-1/general-information.
“Cochlospermum Vitifolium - Useful Tropical Plants.” n.d. Tropical.theferns.info. Accessed November 6, 2023. https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Cochlospermum+vitifolium.
Dalziel, J. M. 1926. “African Leather Dyes.” Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information (Royal Gardens, Kew) 1926 (6): 225. https://doi.org/10.2307/4118651.
Image sources: Oldcrookedjaw and Forest & Kim Starr.