Cochlospermum religiosum (L.) Alston

 

Family: Cochlospermaceae

Synonym: Bombax gossypium L.

Vernacular name: Appakudukka, Chembanji, Kokkamaram, Parappoola, Seemapanjimaram

Habit: Tree

Habitat: Moist and dry deciduous forests

Distribution: India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines

Flowering and Fruiting: February-March

Key identification features: These deciduous trees have thick, dark grey bark with fibrous branches. Their leaves are simple, palmately lobed, and alternate. The flowers are bright yellow and bisexual, arranged in terminal panicles. The fruit is a leathery capsule containing many black seeds embedded in white cotton-like material.

Uses: Immature fruit is cut at the top and inner material is removed. A flour of ragi and gram with jaggery put inside the shell, the opening is sealed with the cut piece. This is put into the fire and cooked. The cooked mixture is given to cure tumours of the stomach.