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Bright red and as smooth as silk

Bombax floss has many uses, as a stuffing in cushions and to make surgical dressing. These trees grow in fertile, loam-based moist soil

A PRETTY PICTURE Bombax Malabaricum

Bombax ceilba or Bombax malabaricum is a large deciduous tree that has its origin in the moist tropical forests in Africa, Asia and Australia. Trees grow up to a height of 40 metres and are spiny when young with buttresses when mature. Leaves have 5-7 lance-shaped leaflets arranged like the fingers of a hand. The leaflets are short-stalked, ovate, pointed at the tip and about 3-5 cm long. Large, brilliant, crimson flowers appear near the tips of the branches in summer. The calyx is cup-shaped, usually 3-lobed, smooth outside and white and silky within. The petals are oblong, re-curved and fleshy and each bloom has a dome-like brush of yellow-anthered stamens with pink filaments.

The fruit is about 10-15 cm long, 5 angled, short stalked and black when ripe; and splits open in April-May to reveal silky seeds and disgorge quantities of silky cotton in which small seeds are embedded.

The floss is used for stuffing cushions and pillows and is excellent for making surgical dressings. The bark is covered with conical prickles when young, with ties of whorled branches.

Bombax is leafless from December until March. Bombax ceilia also known as Bombax malabaricum, of the family Bombacaceae is found in Asia, Africa and Australia. It is also called the Kapok tree. The wood is used for making matchboxes and package cases.

Trees grow in fertile, loam-based moist soil in full light and must be watered freely. It prefers full sun and soil should be dry. When leafless the tree must be kept dry. Keep almost dry while leafless. Propagation is by seeds or semi-ripe cuttings. Bombax is grown as specimen trees and to provide shade. It will tolerate hard pruning to restrict size.

CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN

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