Bombax ceiba L., Sp. pl. 1:511. 1753, nom. cons.
Syn: Bombax malabaricum DC.; Gossampinus malabaricus (DC.) Merr.; Salmalia malabarica (DC.) Schott & Endl.
Common names: Indian kapok, red cottontree, red silk-cotton, silk-cottontree, simal
Deciduous tree with spiny trunk; leaves palmate compound with 3-7 elliptic-obovate leaflets; floers solitary, clustered near ends of branches; flowers dull to bright red; stamens numerous in two whorls; capsules up to 15 cm long, slightly angled with numerous seeds embedded in wool.
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Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/