Edible: Roots, Leaves, Flowers, Fruit, Seeds, Seeds - oil, Gum
A large tree. It loses its leaves in the dry season. It grows to 20-25 m tall and spreads to 8-15 m wide. The stem is erect. It has buttresses when mature. The trunk and branches are covered with large pyramid shaped spines. The crown is umbrella shaped. The bark is pale ash coloured. It develops cracks along its length with age. The leaves are arranged like fingers on a hand. The leaves are rounded and 30-50 cm across. There are 5-7 leaflets which are elliptical. These are 12-20 cm long. The leaves are bright green and leathery. The trees flower during the dry season when the tree has no leaves. The flowers are red, open or cup shaped and 10-15 cm across. The flowers are often clustered near the ends of branches. The flowers appear while the leaves have fallen from the tree. The flower petals are thickened and curved backwards in the upper half. The fruit is a brown oval capsule. This seed envelope is about 15 cm long. It has 5 angles and many seeds. The seeds are covered with soft, silky cotton.
A tropical plant. It grows in tropical monsoonal rainforest. It suits humid locations. It requires an open sunny position. It will grows on most soils. It can grow in limestone areas. It is drought and frost tender. Trees must have a temperature above 13°C. In Nepal plants grow to 1200 m altitude. In the Indian Himalayas it grows between 1,200-1,400 m above sea level. They are found at low altitudes throughout the Philippines. In India they grow in all deciduous forests. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Common Names: Kapok tree, Red silk-cotton tree, Boichu, Bombax, Booruga, Boorunga, Bouro, Bula, Buroh, Doak-ngew, Edel daru, Edelsong, Gao rung, Gon rung, Guan niu, Hambo, Illavam, Kaanti-senbal, Kadung, Kantakadruma, Kantesavar, Kate savar, Katesawar, Kawl-tung-peng, Kempu-booruga, Kempuburuga, Koki, Kroik, Leptan, Letpan, Mai-nio, Malabulak, Moc mien, Mu mian, Mulilavu, Mullelava, Mullila-pula, Mullilavau, Mullilavu, Mullubooruga, Mu mian yang, Neibie, Ngiew, Ngiu deng, Ngiu pa, Nglo, Ntoo yaj huab, Nuoliu, Pagun, Pan-ya, Panchu, Pemagesar, Pemguyser, Phakong, Pharkong, Pohon kapuk merah, Poola, Pula-maram, Pulai, Rakta-pushpa, Red Silk Cotton tree, Ro-ka, Roktosimul, Salmali, Samar, Samro, Sanar, Saur, Savar, Savri, Sawar, Semal, Semale, Sémul, Senur, Shaimbal, Shembal, Shemolo, Shevari, Shevri, Shimla, Shimul cotton, Simal, Simalo, Simalu, Simbal, Simla, Simlo, Simolu, Simuli, Singi, Syamling, Yi ka bu duo si
Synonyms: Bombax aculeatum L.;
Bombax ceiba var. leiocarpum Robyns;
Bombax malabaricum DC.;
Bombax heptaphyllum Cav.;
Salmalia malabarica (DC.) Schott & Endl.;
Gossampinus malabarica (DC.) Merrill;