Bombax ceiba - Flora of Qatar

Bombax ceiba L.

Synonyms

Bombax aculeatum, Bombax heptaphyllum, Bombax malabaricum, Bombax thorelii, Bombax tussacii, Gossampinus malabarica, Gossampinus rubra, Gossampinus thorelii, Melaleuca grandiflora, Salmalia malabarica

Common names

Kapok, red cotton tree, red silk-cotton

Extract from Wikipedia article

Bombax ceiba, like other trees of the genus Bombax, is commonly known as cotton tree. More specifically, it is sometimes known as red silk-cotton; red cotton tree; or ambiguously as silk-cotton or kapok, both of which may also refer to Ceiba pentandra.[+]

This Asian tropical tree has a straight tall tree and its leaves are deciduous in winter. Red flowers with 5 petals appear in the spring before the new foliage. It produces a capsule which, when ripe, contains white fibres like cotton. Its trunk bears spikes to deter attacks by animals. Although its stout trunk suggests that it is useful for timber, its wood is too soft to be very useful.

The dry cores of the Bombax ceiba flower (Thai: งิ้ว) are an essential ingredient of the nam ngiao spicy noodle soup of the cuisine of Shan State and Northern Thailand, as well as the kaeng khae curry.

Flower of red cotton tree (Bombax ceiba) taken from Dahl Al Hamam Park at Al Markhiya Street. Doha, Qatar, March 16, 2016

Dissected flower of red cotton tree (Bombax ceiba) taken from Dahl Al Hamam Park on Al Markhiya Street. Doha, Qatar, March 16, 2016

Red cotton tree (Bombax ceiba) in Dahl Al Hamam Park at Al Markhiya Street. Doha, Qatar, March 21, 2016

Al Markhiya St, Doha, Qatar

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Acknowledgements

QNHG (Qatar Natural History Group) and associated people, for a possibility to participate in their field excursions and to learn about local nature.