Red-flowered silk cotton tree
Bombax costatum

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 3-15 m high. The trunk can be 1 m around. It loses its leaves during the year. The bark is grey and deeply cracked. The bark has triangular ridges with thorns. The small branches are densely hairy when young. The leaves are compound and have leaflets like fingers. They are densely hairy when young. There are 5-7 leaflets. They are 6-13 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They are oval but rounded and taper to a short tip. The stalk is 7-20 cm long. The flowers are produced when the tree is leafless. The flowers are single and erect on the branches. They are orange to red. They are 4-7 cm long. The fruit are long or rounded and black or dark brown. They are 6-16 cm long by 4-6 cm wide. They break into 5 pieces. The seeds are black. They are in white kapok.

There are about 8-20 Bombax species. Also put in the family Bombacaceae. In the subfamily Bombacoideae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. A savannah tree. It grows in the Sahel. It grows in open savannah woodland especially in rocky places. It can grow in arid places. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, West Africa (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The flowers are dried and used in sauces. The young fruit are cut and dried and then used in dishes. The young leaves are cooked and used as a vegetable. They are dried and pounded.

Edible parts

Flowers, fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed need treatment before planting. They can also be grown from suckers.

Its other names

Local names

Agougou, Belofa, Boumboum, Bregue, Bumbum, Bunabu, Bunkungo, Buufore, Djoe, Djohi, Djoia, Fula, Garablaobe, Genger, Jomi, Kapokier rouge, Karayah, Kattupa, Kuriga, Kuruhi, Kurya, Luncum, Mikikireck, Mufo, Polom-fidalgo, Polom-foro, Sumauma, Tikonfaati, Ulofo, Veekou, Velta, Voaka

Synonyms

Possibly Bombax buonopozense;