| Description:
This is a
fruit of Red Silk Cotton Tree (Bombax ceiba), a fast growing
tree which can attain a girth of 2 to 3 m, and height about
30 m, in about 50 years. Its wood is as light as 10 to 12 kg,
per cubic foot. It lacks strength, but has good water enduring
property, and is used in manufacture of plywood, matchboxes,
sticks, scabbards, patterns, moulds, etc. and also for making
canoes, light duty boats and other structures required under
water.The trunk and branches have short, thick bristles, which
have medicinal properties. The tree is commonly found in India
and widely distributed in the tropical regions of S. E. Asia,
Northern Australia and USA. Leaves: Alternate, compound with
5 to 7 leaflets arranged in a palmate fashion on a long petiole.
The tree is deciduous and loses its leaves in winter, usually
around January to February, just as the flowers are beginning
to open. The new leaf buds emerge in May after the end of flowering.
Flowers: Conspicuous bright scarlet flowers with five petals.
The flowering period is from February to May but will be shorter
if the weather is warm. The tree is pollinated by a large number
of bird species who are attracted by the copius nectar. Fruit:
A large woody capsule, about 20cm long, containing up to 400
seeds surrounded by long white fluffy hair. In dry conditions
the seeds can be transported up to 500m by the hairs, resulting
in wind pollination. The sap (Gosapol) of seeds is fed upon
by red silk cotton bugs. |
