Flora of the Nilgiris

Habit : A deciduous tree with conical prickles on the trunk when young.

Habitat and Distribution : Occasionally found in plains from the coast, on the deciduous belt of the hills to 1400 m. Tropical Asia to New Guinea.

Indigenous Information : The rock bee, Apis dorsata can be found nesting on this tree.

Other relevent information : The bark gives a gum and exudates are used in medicine. The cotton is used to stuff pillows. Timber is used for matches and coffins.

Field Tips : Tree with buttressed base when mature.

 

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Names:

English : Silk Cotton Tree
Irula : Poola maram
Tamil : Mullilavu
Hindi : Simal
Malayalam : Ilavu
Kannada : Burla, Sauri

Flower:

Paired or clustered at the end branchlets; blood red. Flowering from March-April.

Fruit :

A capsule, oblong, dehiscing by five leathery or woody valves. Seeds many, smooth, globose, embedded in long white wool. Fruiting from April onwards.