Bombax
| Silk Cotton Tree | ||||||||||||||||
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| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||||
| Bombax ceiba |
Silk cotton trees (also commonly called semul, simul, simal, or Indian kopak trees) are found in India and Ceylon. It's Linnaean taxonomy synonyms are Salmalia malabarica, Bombax malabaricum, Bombax ceiba, or Gossampinus malabaricus. They are also known as "red cottontrees."
Silk cotton trees, are among the largest on the Indian subcontinent. They bear red flower between January and March, which mature into small husks containing a fiber, similar Kopak (Ceiba pentandra) which is similar to cotton. They grow quickly, with trunks up to 9 feet thick and up to 100 ft. in height.
They are also planted domestically and for reforestation of cleared areas.