Kapok tree, Red silk-cotton tree

Where does Kapok tree grow?

Found in: Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Central America, China, East Africa, East Timor, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, NW India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, Solomon Islands, South America, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United States, Vietnam, West Indies, West Timor

Notes: There are about 8 Bombax species. It was previously put in the family Bombacaceae.

Status: It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea. The fruit are only occasionally used. The flowers are sold in markets in Nepal.

Growing Kapok tree, Red silk-cotton tree

Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. Seed germinate easily. Cuttings of half ripe wood are used. They can also be grown by layering.

Edible Uses: The taproot of young plants is peeled then roasted and eaten. Flowers are cooked as a vegetable or pickled. The flowers are dried and pounded and used for bread. They are also used in five flower tea. The young leaves are boiled with condiments then eaten. The unripe and ripe fruits are cooked as vegetables. The seeds yield an edible fatty oil. The mature roasted seeds are eaten. The buds, young pods and roots of seedling can be eaten cooked. The young bark is used as a famine food. It is crushed and added to flour.

Production: It is fast growing. The seeds contain 22-25% oil that is edible. In Sikkim seeds are available April to June.

Nutrition Info

Kapok tree, Red silk-cotton tree Photos

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