Cochlospermum religiosum

Cochlospermum religiosum
Cochlospermum religiosum blossoms
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Bixaceae
Genus: Cochlospermum
Species: C. religiosum
Binomial name
Cochlospermum religiosum
(L.) Alston

Cochlospermum religiosum is a flowering plant from the tropical region of Southeast Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. It is a small tree growing to a height of 7.5 m usually found in dry deciduous forests. The name religiosum derives from the fact that the flowers are used as temple offerings. It is also known as silk-cotton tree because the capsules containing the seeds have a fluffy cotton-like substance similar to kapok.[1] Another common name is buttercup tree because its yellow and bright flowers look like large-sized buttercups.[2]

In Theravada Buddhism, this plant is said to have used as the tree for achieved enlightenment, or Bodhi by nineteenth Lord Buddha called "Siddhaththa - සිද්ධත්ථ". The plant is known as කිණිහිරියා (Kinihiriyaa) in Sinhala, and කණිකාර (Kanikaara) in Sanskrit..

References

  1. ↑ USDA Cochlospermum religiosum (L.) Alston
  2. ↑ Flowers of India - Buttercup tree

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