Bombax insigne

Wall.

Showy silk cotton tree, White silk cotton tree

Malvaceae Edible: Fruit, Flowers 96 iNaturalist observations

timber

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(с) Aditya Gadkari, некоторые права защищены (CC BY-NC), загрузил Aditya Gadkari

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(с) Pravin Kawale, некоторые права защищены (CC BY-NC), загрузил Pravin Kawale

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(с) Rujuta Vinod, некоторые права защищены (CC BY-NC), загрузил Rujuta Vinod

Description

A large tree. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 10 m high and spreads 3 m wide. The stem is erect and stout. The leaves are divided like fingers on a hand. There are 5-7 oval leaflets that taper to the tip. They are green. The flowers are bright pink to red and open with 5 petals. The fruit are brownish oblong pods.

Edible Uses

The roasted fruits are eaten and the flowers are used as a vegetable.

Traditional Uses

The roasted fruit are eaten. The flowers are used as a vegetable.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It needs a light, rich, moist, well-drained soil. It needs a protected sunny position. It is damaged by drought and frost.

Where It Grows

Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seeds. The seeds need treatment before planting.

Other Uses

A fibre obtained from the seed floss can be used as a stuffing material or spun. The whitish wood is very light, soft, but more durable than that of Bombax malabaricum. It is used for making packing cases. It is particularly valued for making matches. It is also good for pulping to make paper, although it is rather difficult to crush.

Notes

Also put in the family Bombacaceae. In the subfamily Bombacoideae.

Also Known As

Didok, Didu, Gao dacbiet, Kadaung, Kloh, Pa-raik, Simal, Taung-let-pan, Tomela, Tum-peng

References (4)

Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 154
Bhargava, N., 1983, Ethnobotanical Studies of the Tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. 1. Onge. Economic Botany 37(1): 110-119
Dobriyal, M. J. R. & Dobriyal, R., 2014, Non Wood Forest Produce an Option for Ethnic Food and Nutritional Security in India. Int. J. of Usuf. Mngt. 15(1):17-37
Gardner, S., et al, 2000, A Field Guide to Forest Trees of Northern Thailand, Kobfai Publishing Project. p 76