CEIBA PENTANDRA GAERTN

Common name: Kapok, Ceiba, White Silk-Cotton Tree • Hindi: Safed semal सफ़ेद सेमल • Manipuri: মোৰেহ তেৰা Moreh Tera • Malayalam: Pannimaram • Tamil: Pancu • Telugu: Tellaburaga • Marathi: Samali •Kannada: Dudi • Sanskrit: Kutashalmali • Bengali: শ্ৱেত সিমল Shwet Simul

Botanical name: Ceiba pentandra   

Family: Bombacaceae (baobab family)

Geographical distribution

The plant occurs throughout India.

Introduction: Kapok tree is an emergent tree of the tropical rainforests, and is often described as majestic. It can grow to a height of 150 feet or more, towering over other trees in the rainforest. Originally a native to South America it now has spread to the primary rainforests of West Africa, and the Southeast Asia. The straight trunks are cylindrical, smooth and gray in color, and can reach a diameter of 9 feet. The wood is a pinkish white to ashy brown in color, with a straight grain. The branches grow in horizontal tiers, and spread widely. The crown has an open umbrella shape. Many plants and animals grow and live in the branches of the kapok tree. Birds nest in it, and mammals use the huge branches as highways. Frogs breed in the pools of water that collect in the bromeliads. The leaves are palmate and compound. The 5-9 leaflets are 7-8 cm long and 1-3.5 cm wide. Flowers usually open before the leaves appear, and are clustered on small, new branches. The 5 petals of a flower are about 2.5 cm long and are a creamy white or pale pink in color. Their odor is unpleasan, but is probably meant to attract the bats that pollinate them. The brown seeds are round like peas and are found in pods.

Species type: Tree

Chemical composition

The gum, hattian gond or mocharas contains gallic and tannic acids.

Therapeutic uses

The leaves are given in gonorrhoea. Externally they are used as an emollient; for relief of fever and headache the face and the head of the patient are bathed with a decoction of the leaves. The bark is emetic, diuretic, astringent and febrifuge. A decoction of the flowers is used as a laxative and demulcent. The unripe pods are astringent, demulcent and emollient. The roots are stimulant and tonic and also useful in diabetes. Gum (gond) is also used in diarrhoea. The gum is astringent and styptic; it is used as a tonic, alterative and aphrodisiac; it is given in bowel complaints and menorrhagia; 20-30 gm. of the gum is given to children in diarrhoea.

Folk medicinal uses

The juice of the roots is valued as a cure for diabetes. 20-30 gm of the gum is given to children in diarrhoea.

Flowers: October-November