Bombax ceiba

Scientific name: Bombax ceibaL.

Family: Bombacaceae

Synonym: Bombax heterophyllum L., Bombax malabaricum DC.

Bengali/Vernacular name: Shimul-tula, Shimul, Lalshimul.

Tribal name: Pongchong (Bawm), Laapai-pang (Chak), Man-chow (Garo), Chapang (Khumi), Phun-chawng-kung (Lushai), Pang-sing (Murang), Ompang (Pangkhoa), Gonja-bawn (Rakhaing), Bochuk (Tripura), Chamful gaith (Tanchangya), Lakh pine (Marma).

English name: Red silk cotton tree, Red cotton tree.

Description of the plant: A large deciduous tree with tall trunk and spreading crown. Trunk and branches, particularly of young trees covered with large woody conical prickles. Leaves large, deciduous and smooth, leaflets 3-7, palmately arranged. The tree is covered in large cup-shaped red flowers, fascicled at the end of the branches, appearing before the new leaves, the numerous stamens have red filaments and are tipped with black anthers. Fruit an oblong capsule, oblong-obtuse, 5-valved, lined within with white silky hairs. Seeds are numerous, smooth, obovate and embedded in silky hairs.

Plant parts used: Bark.

Medicinal uses: Bark extract is taken to treat sexual disease like leucorrhoea, gonorrhoea and menstrual disorder.

Paste prepared from the bark of the plant with cow dung was applied on the affected area at night to treat inflammation.

Bark paste is used in wound.

Bark juice is taken to cure dysentery.

Distribution: This species is found all over the country.

Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….