Buttercup Tree

Cochlospermum religiosum

Beng: golgol

A small tree with broad, lobed leaves, bearing large, yellow flowers on the bare branches early in March.

Bark: Thick, fibrous, light-colored, marked with deep furrow

Leaf: 3-5 lobed alternately arranged near end of branches 3’’ to 8’’ dia on long stalks

Flower: Brilliant Yellow at the end of branches in small clusters.

Fruit: Large pendulous pear-shaped capsule with kidney shaped seeds attached with white floss

Season: Leaves fall in winter, flowering in Feb-March usually before the new leaves emerge. Fruits mature in June-July

Range/habitat:  Native to dry hilly forests in many parts of India, including the chota Nagpur plateau bordering west Bengal.  

Trivia and notes:  The flowers in leafless tree are very beautiful against blue sky. You can imagine that seeing the picture I snapped in Victoria Memorial. Interesting that the tree flowered in late January (not March). In Sri Lanka it is often grown near Buddhist temples, the species name religiosum is probably due to that.

Where to Find:  In Victoria memorial Compound GPS 22.54418, 88.34161.