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{{SPlantbox
|genus=Bombax
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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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{{Taxobox
{{Taxobox
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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/>
'''''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/>
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]]''.
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]]''.