Common Name: Red Silk Cotton Tree

General Information

Bombax ceiba is an imposing, tall deciduous tree with a spreading crown; it can grow up to a height of 25 metres or more[, ]. The straight, cylindrical bole is usually very spiny on young trees, it has prominent buttresses and can be 80cm in diameter and free of branches for 20 metres or more[, ].
A multi-purpose tree, it is mainly gathered from the wild for its useful fibres, edible flowers, medicinal and many other uses, though it has also sometimes been cultivated[]. It is an excellent choice as a pioneer species for restoring native woodland or for establishing woodland gardens. It is often grown as an ornamental, where it is particularly valued for its mass of short-lived but sweetly scented flowers that are produced when the tree is leafless and attract pollinating birds, squirrels and bees like a magnet[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines to Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Habitat

Hot, dry river valleys, savannah; at elevations below 1,400 metres in southern China[]. Humid lowland deciduous forests[]. Often found near stream banks[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Birds, Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropical, humid lowlands[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 28 - 42°c, though it can tolerate 5 - 49°c[]. It can resist occasional light frosts, with new growth being killed at -1°c, but dormant growth being tolerant down to -3°c[, ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall of 750 - 4,000mm, tolerating 500 - 5,000mm and preferring a distinct dry season[].
Grows best in a sunny position[]. Prefers a deep, rich, well-drained soil, but tolerating a wide range of conditions[, ]. Established plants are drought tolerant[], and can also withstand occasional inundation of the soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.9 - 7.2[].
A fast-growing plant, especially when young[].
The plant can commence flowering when around 8 - 10 years old from seed[].
The plant produces suckers, especially when young, though they often die after 2 - 3 years, especially as the tree grows older[].
Young trees can be coppiced, but older trees will often fail to grow back after being cut down[].
The tree has a thick bark which acts as an insulation and allows it to recover from fires[, ].

Edible Uses

Flowers - cooked. They are highly valued as a curry vegetable[]. The flower buds and the calyx of not fully opened flowers are eaten cooked as a vegetable[].

Young leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[].

Ripe seeds are eaten roasted[, ].

An oil is obtained from the seed[].

Young roots - raw or roasted[]. Rich in starch[].

Gum[].

Medicinal

The flowers are astringent and refrigerant[]. They are used to treat cutaneous troubles[].

The young roots are diuretic and tonic[]. They are used in the treatment of cholera, tubercular fistula, coughs, urinary complaints, nocturnal pollution, abdominal pain due to dysentery, and impotency[].

The gum is astringent, demulcent and tonic[]. It is used in the treatment of dysentery, haemoptysis in pulmonary tuberculosis, influenza and menorrhagia[].

The leaves are hypotensive and hypoglycaemic[]. A decotion of the shoots have reputedly been used to treat ulcers of the palate, syphilis, leprosy and spider or snake bites[]. Combined with the roots of Moghania macrophylla, the fruit of Terminalia chebula and borax, they are used to treat enlarged spleen; they are combined with Capparis zeylanica and Carissa carandas to treat oedema; and with fenugreek to treat corns on the foot[].
The seedlings have reputed antipyretic activity (when ground with a few leaves of fistula and Semecarpus anacardium). They are combined with Vitis spp. (part not specified) to treat carbuncle; and with Terminalia alata to treat haematuria[].

The knots or the stem are used on bleeding gums (cooked in mustard oil with the bark of Zyzyphus rugosa and Ichnocarpus frutescens and then eaten[]).

The bark is reputedly aphrodisiac; it is used against cholera (usually combined with many other plants), pleurisy, stings and as a diuretic. It is also used in bandages for lasting fractures or given in infusion for toothache before visiting the dentist[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing plant, tolerant of full sun even when small and with a wide range of uses, it can be used as a pioneer when restoring native woodland[, ]. It can also be used as a pioneer when establishing a large woodland garden, being able to remain as a canopy tree as the garden matures[].
The plant is traditionally grown in living fences in the northwestern Himalayas, where it helps to exclude livestock and other animals; mark out land boundaries; whilst also providing a range of medicinal and other uses[].

Other Uses

The seed floss is used as a stuffing material for pillows, cushions etc[, ]. It is considered to be vermin-proof[]. Waterproof and buoyant, it can be used as the filling in life jackets[]. It is sometimes also as an insulating material in refrigerators etc; can be used as a packing material; and has sound-proofing properties[, ]. It is of lower quality than the floss obtained from Ceiba pentandra[].

A fibre is obtained from the inner bark[]. It is suitable for cordage[, ].

An extract of the flowers is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a humectant[].

A transparent gum exudes from the bark and sapling root[]. It is called 'Gum of Malabar'[]. The gum contains tannins[]. The gum can be mixed with ashes and castor oil, and is then used as a cement for caulking iron saucepans[].

An oil obtained from the seed is used to make soap and for illumination etc[, ]. It can be used as a substitute for cottonseed oil[].

A methanol extraction of the leaf powder has been shown to be a potent larvicide in mosquito control programmes. The extract from the plant could be used in stagnant water bodies which are known to be the breeding grounds for mosquitoes[].

The fibrous bark is used for making ropes[].

The greyish, dark-streaked wood is coarse-textured, straight-grained, light in weight, very soft and pithy[, ]. It can be used to make packing cases, toys, matches, pencils etc[, ]. Large trunks are often hollowed out to make canoes[]. The wood has been recommended as a source of cellulose[].

Propagation

Seed - sown fresh, without pre-treatment, they have a high germination rate[]. Some reports suggest germination rates can be improved by pre-soaking the seeds for 12 hours prior to sowing[], this is likely to refer to seeds that have dried somewhat[]. Seeds can be sown in a sunny position, either in situ or in nursery beds. Sprouting takes place in 10 - 25 days[]. Transplant 5cm tall seedlings to individual containers and plant out 12 months later[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood.

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