Silkcotton Tree, Malabar Semul , Indian bombax , Kapok tree , Silk Cotton. , Red Cotton Tree , Red silk cotton tree

Bombax ceiba, a large deciduous tree, buttressed at the base, grows up to 30mt. in height, with a clear bole of 24-30 m. and a girth up to 2-3mt. The plant is widely distributed throughout India, up to the elevation of 1,500 m or even higher. The palmate leaves measure up to 24 inches in length, with 3 to 7 lanceolate or elliptic, smooth and leathery leaflets. Bombax ceiba flowers consists five scarlet, red or white petals. The flowers measure about 6 to 7 inches in length, and up to 7 inches in width, and are placed solitarily or in clusters. The large fruits measure up to 6 inches in length, and are pointed and ovoid, filled with smooth hairs. Its wood when sawn fresh is white in color. However with exposure and passage of time it grows darkish grey. Small Bombax ceiba seeds are dark brown in color, in woody capsules. Bombax ceiba wood is used for construction work and is popular for making plywood, matchsticks, matchboxes etc.

GERMINATION AND SEEDLING STAGES:

The germination is epigeous; the testa splits and the radicle emerge from the narrow end of the seeds and descends. The hypocotyl elongates, arching at first, and in straightening, carries above ground the cotyledons, which are much crupled in the seed but soon expand. The root is tape roots. The primary root long, at first thin, afterwards thickening greatly becoming fleshy, tapering upwards and downwards from the fleshy part, at first white, afterwards yellow or light brown, lateral roots few or moderately numerous, chiefly upper part of main root.

Seedlings are subject to the attacks of various animals; rabbits nibble the stem, rats gnaw the taproot, and pigs and porcupines grub up the roots.

The growth of seedlings during the first season is slower than it is subsequently. In Dehardun (India), seedlings attained a height of 8-15 cm by the end of the first growth season, while those which are regularly weeded and watered grew rapidly during the second season, some reaching a height up to 1.7 m by the end of the season: in more tropical climates, the growth is very much faster. On stiff soil and on other unfavourable ground, the seedlings remain small for two or three years or more, growing only a few centimeters.

In dry localities, they may die back annually for a few years before establishing themselves and commencing upward growths.

The Bombax is frost sensitive and shows the die back in seedlings.

USDA hardiness: 9-12