শিমুল Shimul/ Red Cotton tree/ Bombax ceiba

Nature & Tech in BD

Red Cotton flower

Zzjv MvQ Tula gass(in Bengali) which basically known as cotton tree or red silk cotton tree  in English. Scientifically it's known as Bombax ceiba. More specifically, it is sometimes known as red silk-cotton; red cotton tree.

This is a Asian tropical tree specially found in southern part of Bangladesh (e.g.-Barisal, Barguna, Jhalokathi dist.). It has a straight tall trunk 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 fibers 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.

Medical Uses:

Red cotton tree near paddy field 

 ·The flowers are astringent and refrigerant. They are used to treat cutaneous troubles.

 · The young roots are diuretic and tonic. They are used in the treatment of cholera, tubercular fistula, coughs, urinary complaints, nocturnal pollution, abdominal pain due to dysentery, and impotency.

 ·       The gum is astringent, demulcent and tonic. It is used in the treatment of dysentery, haemoptysis in pulmonary tuberculosis, influenza and menorrhagia.

·      The leaves are hypertensive and hypoglycemic. A decotion of the shoots has reputedly been used to treat ulcers of the palate, syphilis, leprosy and spider or snake bites.

·   Combined with the roots of Moghania macrophylla, the fruit of Terminalia chebula and borax, they are used to treat enlarged spleen; they are also combined with Capparis zeylanica and Carissa carandas to treat edema; and with fenugreek to treat corns on the foot.

·       The seedlings have reputed antipyretic activity. They are combined with Vitis spp. to treat carbuncle; and with Terminalia alata to treat haematuria.

·       The knots or the stem are used on bleeding gums (cooked in mustard oil with the bark of Zyzyphus rugosa and Ichnocarpus frutescens and then eaten. red silk cotton tree

Cotton flower

It’s also use for-----

ü A fiber is acquired from the internal bark. It is reasonable for cordage.

ü A straightforward gum radiates from the bark and sapling root. It is called 'Gum of Malabar.

ü The gum contains tannins. The gum can be blended with slag and castor oil, and is then utilized as a concrete for caulking iron pots.

ü An oil acquired from the seed is utilized to make cleanser and for enlightenment and so forth. It can be utilized as a substitute for cottonseed oil.

However this trees are now in endanger because the number of this trees are reducing in day by day. So we should plant such kind of trees to maintain our ecological imbalance and increase our natural beauty. red silk cotton tree.