Bombax ceiba L.
| Kannada Name : | Kempu booruga |
| Common Name : | Malabar silk cotton tree, Red silk cotton tree |
| Family Name : | Malvaceae |
| Scientific Name : | Bombax ceiba |
| Species Type : | Indigenous |
| Phenology : | Deciduous |
| Conservation Status : | Not known |
| Flowering Period : | January - February |
| Fruiting Period : | March - May |
| Origin : | Southern and Eastern Asia, Australia |
Uses
The flowers are astringent and refrigerant. They are used to treat cutaneous troubles. The young roots are diuretic and tonic. The seed floss is used as a stuffing material for pillows, cushions etc. It is considered to be vermin-proof.
Description
A large, deciduous tree growing up to 45 m. Trunk buttressed, bears numerous conical prickles, particularly when young, but get eroded when older. Leaves palmately compound, with about 5-7 leaflets, alternate; leaflets elliptic, elliptic-lanceolate, elliptic-ovate, base attenuate or cuneate, apex acuminate, margin entire. Inflorescence terminal, solitary or fascicule. Flowers bisexual, large, red or orange-red, 10 cm in diameter. Fruit a capsule, 8–10 cm long, finely tomentose. Seeds numerous, brown, embedded in white cotton.
