Buttercup Tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Buttercup Tree
• silk cottontree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cochlospermum triphyllum
• Maximilianea vitifolia
• Bombax hibiscifolium
• Maximilianea triphylla
• Bombax vitifolium
• Cochlospermum serratifolium
• Cochlospermum hibiscoides var. dasycarpum
• Cochlospermum hibiscoides var. gymnocarpum
• Cochlospermum codinae
• Maximilianea codinae
• Cochlospermum hibiscoides
• Maximilianea hibiscodes
• Cochlospermum luetzeiburgii
• Wittelsbachia vitifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malvales, it is classified under the family Bixaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Cochlospermum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning both the Pacific islands and several regions of Mexico. In the South-Central Pacific, its presence is specifically noted within the Society Islands. Within Mexico, the species can be found across a diverse range of territories including the Central and Northeast regions. Furthermore, it extends its reach into the Mexico Gulf area. Finally, the plant is also documented throughout the Mexico Northwest.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cochlospermum vitiifolium is characterized by its presence across diverse biomes, including the Caatinga (strictu sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Estacional Decidual, and the Savana Amazônica. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1490 m AMSL. On average, the plant thrives at a mean elevation of 375 m AMSL, demonstrating a high degree of adaptability to varying topographical gradients within its native habitats.

Elevational range max:

1490 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

375 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Estacional Decidual, Savana Amazônica

Life history

The life history of Cochlospermum vitifolium is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment over many growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a life form that supports its structural development into a substantial tree or large shrub. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage seasonally, which often coincides with its flowering period to maximize visibility and reproductive efficiency. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle, a phanerophyte growth habit, and deciduous phenology defines its adaptive strategy within its native ecological niches.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cochlospermum vitiifolium is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree that reaches a mean height of approximately 15 m, with a maximum potential height of up to 17 m. As a self-supporting organism, it does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, nor does it exhibit epiphytic or parasitic tendencies, maintaining an independent and terrestrial life habit. Its growth form is strictly defined as a tree, possessing a robust woody structure that distinguishes it from herbaceous or shrubby species. This terrestrial plant thrives in land-based environments rather than aquatic or semiaquatic habitats, relying on its independent physiological processes for development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

17 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cochlospermum vitiifolium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits specific leaf morphological and structural traits, including a mean Leaf Dry Matter Content (LDMC) of 270.7 mg/g, with values ranging from a minimum of 265.9 mg/g to a maximum of 275.5 mg/g. These metrics indicate the density of biomass within its leaf tissues. Furthermore, the plant possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 175.297 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf area per unit of dry mass. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, Cochlospermum vitiifolium does not function as a nitrogen fixer.

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) max:

275.5 mg/g

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) mean:

270.7 mg/g

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) min:

265.9 mg/g

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

175.297 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cochlospermum vitiifolium is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily facilitated by insects, with bees playing a significant role in the transfer of pollen. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces dry fruits that contain relatively small seeds. These seeds exhibit a mean length of 2.874 mm, ranging from a minimum of 2.22 mm to a maximum of 3.528 mm, with a consistent seed volume of 27 mm³. In terms of weight, the seed mass varies from a minimum of 0.0202 g to a maximum of 0.03342 g, maintaining a mean mass of approximately 0.02724 g. Once mature, the seeds are dispersed via an anemochorous syndrome, utilizing wind as the primary mechanism for movement and colonization.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Fruit dryness :

dry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

3.528 mm

Seed length mean:

2.874 mm

Seed length min:

2.22 mm

Seed mass max:

0.03342 g

Seed mass mean:

0.02724 g

Seed mass min:

0.0202 g

Seed volume max:

27 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cochlospermum vitifolium has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include naringenin, (+/-)-Naringenin, Antiarol, CONIFERYL ALCOHOL, Epoxyconiferyl Alcohol.

naringenin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

(+/-)-Naringenin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiarol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

CONIFERYL ALCOHOL

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Epoxyconiferyl Alcohol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Pinoresinol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Populnin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Prunin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

STIGMASTEROL

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

TAXIFOLIN

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Cochlospermum vitifolium has 7 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hypoglycemic, Antidiabetic, Antihypertensive, Antioxidant, Genoprotective.

Hypoglycemic

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidiabetic

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Antihypertensive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Genoprotective

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Hepatoprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Vasorelaxant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Cochlospermum vitifolium has 13 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include hepatitis C, hypertension, jaundice, metabolic syndrome, asthma.

Hepatitis c

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hypertension

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Jaundice

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Metabolic syndrome

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Asthma

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Cancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Dyslipidemia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Feeding disorders

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Hepatitis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypercholesterolemia

1. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

Preparations

Cochlospermum vitifolium has 3 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include dried bark, methanol extract, stem bark.

Dried bark

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Methanol extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Stem bark

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology