Bombax costatum

Red kapok tree ( Bombax costatum )

The plant Bombax costatum, also called Red Kapok tree, belongs to the subfamily of Bombacoideae in the mallow family ( Malvaceae ). It is used in West African savannas and dry forests from Senegal to Cameroon often face on rocky sites.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Bombax costatum grows barely reaches over 6 feet as a deciduous tree, the growth heights of up to 25 meters and in the Sahel. The relatively slim, tall trunk is protected by a thick, korkige, gray -brown bark with corked spines.

The alternate standing on the branches, 8-15 cm long leaves are divided into a long petiole and leaf blade one. The leaf blade is fingered palmate. The five to eight leaves are short- stalked and entire, with eight to ten pairs of lateral nerves.

Generative features

The solitary on long, smooth flower stems flowers appear before the leaves. The flower has a double perianth ( perianth ), a length of 5 to 6 centimeters and a diameter of 4-7 inches. The cup-shaped calyx is fleshy. The bright red, orange or yellow petals are fused at their basal.

The 6 to 16 inches long, dark brown, ellipsoidal with a diameter of 3 to 6 inches fruit capsule opens at five longitudinal slots and dismisses some small seeds with their characteristic white seed hairs ( " red " or "false " kapok).

Use

The sepals are used in West Africa for the preparation of sauces. Since the harvest often all branches are cut off, this type goes back in many places.