Why in the News?

Despite its ecological importance, rampant harvesting of Semal Trees for bonfires poses a grave threat to their existence, undermining biodiversity and cultural heritage alike.

About Semal/ Silk Cotton Trees

• The Semal tree, scientifically known as Bombax ceiba, is a deciduous tropical tree.
• It is native to India, South-East Asia, and Northern Australia.
• It can grow up to 60 meters tall. It has a distinctive straight trunk, often with spiky thorns, and a wide, spreading canopy.
• It produces vivid red flowers that are large and attractive, making it quite conspicuous when in bloom.
• The fruit of the Semal tree is a capsule that contains several seeds surrounded by a fibrous, cotton-like substance which is wind-dispersed.

Commercial Uses

• The fibers extracted from the fruit, known as kapok, are used for stuffing pillows, mattresses, and life jackets due to their buoyancy and insulating properties.
• The wood is soft and is often used for making paper, while in rural areas, it is used as fuelwood and for making cheap furniture.

Ecological Significance

• Members of tribal communities consume the tree’s reddish root for food during the monsoons.
• Larvae of the moth Bucculatrix crateracma feed on its leaves.
• The golden-crowned sparrow weaves the lining of its nests with white cotton from its seeds.

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