Red Silk Cotton Tree, Kapok Tree

Bombax ceiba

Physical Characteristics

Bombax ceiba is a deciduous Tree growing to 25 m (82ft) by 22 m (72ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Birds, Bees. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Distribution

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

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Inner bark Leaves Oil Root Seed Seedpod Edible Uses: Gum Oil Tea Edible portion: Roots, Leaves, Flowers, Fruit, Seeds - oil, Gum. Flowers - cooked or pickled. They are highly valued as a curry vegetable[ 307 ]. The flower buds and the calyx of not fully opened flowers are eaten cooked as a vegetable[ 317 ]. Flowers are dried and pounded and used for bread also used in five flower tea. Young leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[ 404 ]. Ripe seeds are eaten roasted[ 301 , 317 ]. An edible fatty oil is obtained from the seed[ 301 ]. The seeds contain 22-25% oil. Young roots - The taproot is peeled and eaten raw or roasted[ 404 ]. Rich in starch[ 404 ]. Gum[ 404 ]. The buds, young pods and roots of seedling can be eaten cooked. The young bark is used as a famine food.

Medicinal Uses

Antipyretic Antitussive Astringent Cholera Demulcent Diuretic Dysentery Hypoglycaemic Hypotensive Leprosy Mouthwash Refrigerant Stings Tonic Urinary The flowers are astringent and refrigerant[ 404 ]. They are used to treat cutaneous troubles[ 404 ]. The young roots are diuretic and tonic[ 404 ]. They are used in the treatment of cholera, tubercular fistula, coughs, urinary complaints, nocturnal pollution, abdominal pain due to dysentery, and impotency[ 404 ]. The gum is astringent, demulcent and tonic[ 404 ]. It is used in the treatment of dysentery, haemoptysis in pulmonary tuberculosis, influenza and menorrhagia[ 404 ]. The leaves are hypotensive and hypoglycaemic[ 404 ]. A decotion of the shoots have reputedly been used to treat ulcers of the palate, syphilis, leprosy and spider or snake bites[ 404 ]. 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[ 404 ]. 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[ 404 ]. 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[ 404 ]). The bark is reputedly used against cholera (usually combined with many other plants), pleurisy, stings and as a diuretic. It is used in bandages for lasting fractures or given in infusion for toothache before visiting the dentist[ 404 ].

Known Hazards

Seed is poisonous if ingested