Difference between revisions of "Bombax"

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{{Taxobox
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{{SPlantbox
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| color = lightgreen
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|familia=Malvaceae
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| name = Silk-cotton tree
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|genus=Bombax
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| image = bombax-flower-leaf.jpg
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|taxo_author=L.
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| image_width = 240px
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|common_name=Bombax, Silk Cotton Tree, Simal, Red Cotton Tree, Kapok
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| image_caption = Bombax flower
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|habit=tree
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
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|habit_ref=Wikipedia
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| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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|Temp Metric=°F
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| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
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|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
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| ordo = [[Malvales]]
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|image=bombax-flower-leaf.jpg
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| familia = [[Malvaceae]]
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|image_width=200
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| subfamilia = [[Bombacoideae]]
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|image_caption=Bombax flower
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| genus = '''''Bombax'''''
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}}
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| subdivision_ranks = Species
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'''''Bombax''''' is a genus of  mainly tropical trees in the [[Malvaceae|mallow family]]. They are native to western [[Africa]],  the [[Indian subcontinent]], [[Southeast Asia]], as well as sub-tropical regions of [[East Asia]] and northern [[Australia]]. Common names for the genus include '''Silk Cotton Tree''', '''Simal''', '''Red Cotton Tree''', '''Kapok''' and simply '''Bombax'''. Currently three species are recognised, though many plants have been placed in the genus that were later moved.<ref name=GRIN/>
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| subdivision =
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''[[Bombax buonopozense]]''<br/>
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The genus is best known for the species ''[[Bombax ceiba|B. ceiba]]'', which is widely cultivated throughout tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. It is native to southern and eastern [[Asia]] and northern [[Australia]].
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''[[Bombax ceiba]]''<br/>
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''[[Bombax insigne]]''<ref name=GRIN>{{cite web| title=Bombax| work = Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN)| url = http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?1565| accessdate = 2007-06-26 }}</ref> <br/>
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''Bombax'' species are among the largest [[tree]]s in their regions, reaching 30 to 40 metres in height and up to 3 metres trunk diameter. The [[leaf|leaves]] are compound with entire margins and [[deciduous]], being shed in the dry-season. They measure 30 to 50&nbsp;cm across and are palmate in shape with 5 to 9 [[leaflet]]s. The [[sepal|calyx]] is deciduous, meaning it does not persist on the fruits.
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They bear 5 to 10&nbsp;cm long red [[flower]]s between January and March while the tree is still leafless. The [[stamen]]s are present in bundles in two whorls, while the staminal column lacks lobes. The [[ovary]] matures into a husk containing seeds covered by a fibre similar to that of the [[kapok]] (''Ceiba pentandra'') and to [[cotton]], though with shorter [[fibre]]s than cotton, that does not lend itself to spinning, making it unusable as a textile product.<ref name=Systematics>{{citation| last = Beentje| first = Henk; Smith, Sara| title = Plant Systematics and Phytogeography for the Understanding of African Biodiversity| journal = Systematics and Geography of Plants| volume =  71| issue = 2| year = 2001| pages = 284–286| url = http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=1374-7886%282001%2971%3A2%3C265%3AFAA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-O| accessdate = 2007-06-25}}</ref>
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{{Inc|
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Bombax (a Greek name for raw silk, alluding to the cottony contents of the pods). Bombacaceae. Silk Cotton Tree. A genus of 50 species of tropical shrubs and trees, with digitate 5-9-foliolate lvs., 1-fld. axillary or clustered peduncles, and usually large white or scarlet fls. Specimens are rarely seen in cult, in fine glasshouses, and only 1 of the species appears to be in the American trade. The bark of some species produces commercial fiber such as the Kapok fiber.
 
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}}
  
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'''''Bombax''''' is a genus of  primarily tropical trees in the [[Malvaceae|mallow family]]. They are native to tropical areas in western [[Africa]],  the [[Indian Subcontinent]], [[Southeast Asia]], as well as sub-tropical regions of [[East Asia]] and northern [[Australia]]. Common names for the genus include '''Silk Cotton Tree''', '''Simal''', '''Red Cotton Tree''', '''Kapok''' and simply '''Bombax'''. In [[China]] they are known as '''Mumian''' ({{zh-cp|c=木棉|p=mùmián}}), meaning "tree cotton". Currently three species are recognised, though many plants have been placed in the genus that were later moved.<ref name=GRIN/>
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==Cultivation==
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===Propagation===
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The genus is most well known though the species ''[[Bombax ceiba|B. ceiba]]'', which is widely cultivated throughout tropical and sub-tropcial regions of the world. Furthermore, it is native to both southern and eastern [[Asia]] as well as northern [[Australia]]. Specimens of trees within the gens are present at many botanical gardens worldwide, such as [[Lal Bagh]] in [[Bangalore]]. ''Bombax'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including the leaf-miner ''[[Bucculatricidae|Bucculatrix crateracma]]'' which feeds exclusively on ''[[Bombax ceiba]]''.
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===Pests and diseases===
  
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==Description==
 
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''Bombax'' species are among the largest [[tree]]s in their regions, reaching 30 to 40 metres in height and up to 3 metres trunk diameter. The [[leaf|leaves]] are compound with entire margins and [[deciduous]], being shed in the dry-season. They measure 30 to 50 cm across and are palmate in shape with 5 to 9 [[leaflet]]s. The [[sepal | calyx]] is deciduous, meaning it does not persist on the fruits. They bear 5 to 10 cm long red [[flower]]s between January and March while the tree is still leafless. The [[stamen]]s are present in bundles in two whorls, while the staminal column lacks lobes. The [[ovary]] matures into a husk containing seeds covered by a fibre similar to that of the [[kapok]] (''Ceiba pentandra'') and to [[cotton]], though with shorter [[fibre]]s than cotton, that does not lend itself to spinning, making it unusable as a textile product.<ref name=Systematics>{{citation| last = Beentje| first = Henk; Smith, Sara| title = Plant Systematics and Phytogeography for the Understanding of African Biodiversity| journal = Systematics and Geography of Plants| volume =  71| issue = 2| year = 2001| pages = 284-286| url = http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=1374-7886%282001%2971%3A2%3C265%3AFAA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-O| accessdate = [[2007-06-25]]}}</ref>
 
  
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==References==
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==Varieties==
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{{reflist}}
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''[[Bombax buonopozense]]''<br/>
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''[[Bombax ceiba]]''<br/>
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''[[Bombax insigne]]''
  
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==Further reading==
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==Gallery==
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*{{Fr icon}} {{citation| last = Robyns| first = André| title = Essai de monographie du genre Bombax s.l. (Bombacaceae)| journal = Bulletin du Jardin botanique de l'État a Bruxelles| volume = 33| issue = 1| date = March 31, 1963| pages = 1-144|| doi = 10.2307/3667210}}
 
  
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==External links==
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<gallery perrow=5>
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* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?1565 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Bombax'']
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Image:Upload.png| photo 1
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* [http://www.haryana-online.com/Flora/semul.htm Haryana Online: Semul]
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Image:Upload.png| photo 2
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* [http://www.abasar.net/FlowerShimul.htm Abasar] (in [[Bengali language|Bengali]])
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Image:Upload.png| photo 3
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</gallery>
  
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[[Category:Malvaceae]]
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==References==
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[[Category:Bombacaceae]]
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<references/>
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[[Category:Trees of Africa]]
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
  
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==External links==
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*{{wplink}}
  
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{{stub}}
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__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 22:39, 10 February 2010


Bombax flower


Plant Characteristics
Habit   tree
Cultivation
Scientific Names

Malvaceae >

Bombax >

L. >


If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!


Bombax is a genus of mainly tropical trees in the mallow family. They are native to western Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, as well as sub-tropical regions of East Asia and northern Australia. Common names for the genus include Silk Cotton Tree, Simal, Red Cotton Tree, Kapok and simply Bombax. Currently three species are recognised, though many plants have been placed in the genus that were later moved.[1]

The genus is best known for the species B. ceiba, which is widely cultivated throughout tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. It is native to southern and eastern Asia and northern Australia.

Bombax species are among the largest trees in their regions, reaching 30 to 40 metres in height and up to 3 metres trunk diameter. The leaves are compound with entire margins and deciduous, being shed in the dry-season. They measure 30 to 50 cm across and are palmate in shape with 5 to 9 leaflets. The calyx is deciduous, meaning it does not persist on the fruits.

They bear 5 to 10 cm long red flowers between January and March while the tree is still leafless. The stamens are present in bundles in two whorls, while the staminal column lacks lobes. The ovary matures into a husk containing seeds covered by a fibre similar to that of the kapok (Ceiba pentandra) and to cotton, though with shorter fibres than cotton, that does not lend itself to spinning, making it unusable as a textile product.[2]


Read about Bombax in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Bombax (a Greek name for raw silk, alluding to the cottony contents of the pods). Bombacaceae. Silk Cotton Tree. A genus of 50 species of tropical shrubs and trees, with digitate 5-9-foliolate lvs., 1-fld. axillary or clustered peduncles, and usually large white or scarlet fls. Specimens are rarely seen in cult, in fine glasshouses, and only 1 of the species appears to be in the American trade. The bark of some species produces commercial fiber such as the Kapok fiber.


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


Cultivation

Propagation

Pests and diseases

Varieties

Bombax buonopozense
Bombax ceiba
Bombax insigne

Gallery

  • photo 1

  • photo 2

  • photo 3

References

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GRIN
  2. ↑ Template:Citation

External links


Retrieved from "http://gardenology.mywikis.net/w/index.php?title=Bombax&oldid=96047"