Bombax: Difference between revisions

Bombax
	Bombax ceiba flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Malvaceae
Subfamily:	Bombacoideae
Genus:	Bombax; L.
Species
	See text
Synonyms
	Salmalia Schott & Endl.

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Bombax is a genus of mainly tropical trees in the mallow family. They are native to western Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and the subtropical regions of East Asia and northern Australia. It is distinguished from the genus Ceiba, which has whiter flowers.

Common names for the genus include silk cotton tree, simal, red cotton tree, kapok, and simply bombax. Currently four species are recognised, although many plants have been placed in the genus that were later moved.^[3]

The genus is best known for the species Bombax 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 used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the leaf-miner Bucculatrix crateracma which feeds exclusively on Bombax ceiba.

The tree appears on the flag of Equatorial Guinea.

The tree fibers are 100% cellulose, able to float, impervious to water, and have a low thermal conductivity. Called Kapok in Asia, the fibers are mainly used for insulation in sleeping bags and life preservers. The fibers are also used as stuffing for pillows and mattresses.

Description

Bombax species are among the largest trees in their regions, reaching 30 to 40 metres in height and up to three metres in trunk diameter. The leaves are compound with entire margins and are deciduous, being shed in the dry-season. They measure 30 to 50 cm across and are palmate in shape with five to nine leaflets. The calyx is deciduous, meaning it does not persist on the fruits. They bear five to ten 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.^[4]

Species

Plants of the World Online currently (March 2024) includes:^[2]

Bombax albidum Gagnep.
Bombax anceps Pierre (syn. B. kerrii & B. valetonii)
Bombax blancoanum A.Robyns
Bombax buonopozense P. Beauv.
Bombax cambodiense Pierre
Bombax ceiba L. (syn. B. thorelii Gagnep.)
Bombax costatum Pellegr. & Vuill.
Bombax insigne Wall. (syn. B. scopulorum)

Formerly included species

Ceiba aesculifolia (Kunth) Britten & Baker (as B. aesculifolium Kunth)
Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. (as B. pentandrum L.)
Cochlospermum orinocense (Kunth) Steud. (as B. orinocense Kunth)
Cochlospermum religiosum (L.) Alston (as B. gossypium L.)
Cochlospermum vitifolium (Willd.) Spreng. (as B. vitifolium Willd.)
Ochroma pyramidale (Cav. ex Lam.) Urb. (as B. pyramidale Cav. ex Lam.)
Pachira aquatica Aubl. (as P. macrocarpum (Schltdl. & Cham.) K.Schum.)
Pachira emarginata A.Rich. (as B. emarginata (A.Rich.) C.Wright)
Pachira insignis (Sw.) Savigny (as B. affine (Mart. & Zucc.) Ducke)
Pseudobombax ellipticum (Kunth) Dugand (as B. ellipticum Kunth)
Pseudobombax grandiflorum (Cav.) A.Robyns (as B. cyathophorum (Casar.) K.Schum.)
Pseudobombax septenatum (Jacq.) Dugand (as B. heptaphyllum L.)^[3]
Rhodognaphalon mossambicense (A.Robyns) A.Robyns^[5] (as Bombax mossambicense A.Robyns^[3])

References

^ ^a ^b "Genus: Bombax L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2007-10-05. Archived from the original on 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
^ ^a ^b Plants of the World Online (POWO): Bombax L. (retrieved 30 March 2024)
^ ^a ^b ^c "GRIN Species Records of Bombax". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
^ Beentje, Henk; Smith, Sara (2001), "Plant Systematics and Phytogeography for the Understanding of African Biodiversity", Systematics and Geography of Plants, 71 (2): 284–286, doi:10.2307/3668673, ISSN 1374-7886, JSTOR 3668673{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Plants of the World Online (POWO): Bombax mossambicense A.Robyns (retrieved 10 April 2020)

External links

Bombax in West African plants – A Photo Guide.

[GRIN-1] "Genus: Bombax L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2007-10-05. Archived from the original on 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2013-04-27.

[POWO-2] Plants of the World Online (POWO): Bombax L. (retrieved 30 March 2024)

[GRINSpecies-3] "GRIN Species Records of Bombax". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2013-04-27.

[Systematics-4] Beentje, Henk; Smith, Sara (2001), "Plant Systematics and Phytogeography for the Understanding of African Biodiversity", Systematics and Geography of Plants, 71 (2): 284–286, doi:10.2307/3668673, ISSN 1374-7886, JSTOR 3668673{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[5] Plants of the World Online (POWO): Bombax mossambicense A.Robyns (retrieved 10 April 2020)

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[2]

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}
-{{Italic title}}
+{{Redirect|Simal|the Azerbaijani village|Şimal}}
-{{Taxobox
+{{Automatic taxobox
-|name = ''Bombax''
 |image = bombax-flower-leaf.jpg
 |image_caption = ''[[Bombax ceiba]]'' flower
+|taxon = Bombax
-|regnum = [[Plantae]]
+|authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]<ref name=GRIN>{{cite web |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?1565 |title=Genus: ''Bombax'' L. |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |date=2007-10-05 |access-date=2013-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615193720/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?1565 |archive-date=2013-06-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
-|unranked_divisio = [[Angiosperms]]
-|unranked_classis = [[Eudicots]]
-|unranked_ordo = [[Rosids]]
-|ordo = [[Malvales]]
-|familia = [[Malvaceae]]
-|subfamilia = [[Bombacoideae]]
-|genus = '''''Bombax'''''
-|genus_authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]<ref name=GRIN>{{cite web |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?1565 |title=Genus: ''Bombax'' L. |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |date=2007-10-05 |accessdate=2013-04-27}}</ref>
 |subdivision_ranks = Species
 |subdivision = See text
-|synonyms=''Eriodendron'' <small>DC.</small><br>
+|synonyms=''Salmalia'' <small>Schott & Endl.</small><ref name=GRIN />
-''Salmalia'' <small>Schott & Endl.</small><ref name=GRIN/>
+|synonyms_ref = <ref name = POWO/>
-|}}
+}}
-'''''Bombax''''' is a genus of  mainly tropical trees in the [[Malvaceae|mallow family]]. They are native to western [[Africa]], the [[Indian subcontinent]], [[Southeast Asia]], and the subtropical regions of [[East Asia]] and northern [[Australia]]. It is distinguished from the genus [[Ceiba]], which has whiter flowers.
+'''''Bombax''''' is a genus of  mainly tropical trees in the [[Malvaceae|mallow family]]. They are native to western [[Africa]], the [[Indian subcontinent]], [[Southeast Asia]], and the subtropical regions of [[East Asia]] and northern [[Australia]]. It is distinguished from the genus ''[[Ceiba]]'', which has whiter flowers.
-Common names for the genus include '''silk cotton tree''', '''simal''', '''red cotton tree''', '''kapok''', and simply '''bombax'''. In Chinese they are known as '''Mumian''' ({{zh|c=木棉|p=mùmián}}), meaning "tree cotton". Currently four species are recognised, although many plants have been placed in the genus that were later moved.<ref name=GRINSpecies/>
+Common names for the genus include '''silk cotton tree''', '''simal''', '''red cotton tree''', '''kapok''', and simply '''bombax'''. Currently four species are recognised, although many plants have been placed in the genus that were later moved.<ref name=GRINSpecies />
-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]].
+The genus is best known for the species ''[[Bombax 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 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]]''.
+''Bombax'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including the leaf-miner ''[[Bucculatrix crateracma]]'' which feeds exclusively on ''[[Bombax ceiba]]''.
 The tree appears on the [[flag of Equatorial Guinea]].
+The tree fibers are 100% cellulose, able to float, impervious to water, and have a low thermal conductivity. Called Kapok in [[Asia]], the fibers are mainly used for insulation in sleeping bags and life preservers. The fibers are also used as stuffing for pillows and mattresses.
 ==Description==
 [[Image:Semal (Bombax ceiba)- fallen flower at ground in Kolkata W IMG 4121.jpg|left|thumb|Fallen flower of ''[[Bombax ceiba]]'']]
-''Bombax'' species are among the largest [[tree]]s in their regions, reaching 30 to 40 metres in height and up to three metres in 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 five to nine [[leaflet (botany)|leaflets]]. The [[sepal|calyx]] is deciduous, meaning it does not persist on the fruits. They bear five to ten&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 [[Ceiba pentandra|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| jstor = 3668673| issn = 1374-7886| doi=10.2307/3668673}}</ref>
+''Bombax'' species are among the largest [[tree]]s in their regions, reaching 30 to 40 metres in height and up to three metres in trunk diameter. The [[leaf|leaves]] are compound with entire margins and are [[deciduous]], being shed in the dry-season. They measure 30 to 50&nbsp;cm across and are palmate in shape with five to nine [[leaflet (botany)|leaflets]]. The [[sepal|calyx]] is deciduous, meaning it does not persist on the fruits. They bear five to ten&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 [[Ceiba pentandra|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| jstor = 3668673| issn = 1374-7886| doi=10.2307/3668673}}</ref>
 ==Species==
+[[File:Bombax insigne113.JPG|thumb|''[[Bombax insigne]]'']]
-*''[[Bombax albidum]]'' <small>Gagnep.</small>
+''[[Plants of the World Online]]'' currently (March 2024) includes:<ref name = POWO>[https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:331412-2 Plants of the World Online (POWO): ''Bombax'' L. (retrieved 30 March 2024)]</ref>
-*''[[Bombax anceps]]'' <small>Pierre</small> (syn. ''B. cambodiense'', ''B. kerrii'' & ''B. valetonii'')
-*''[[Bombax buonopozense]]'' <small>P. Beauv.</small>
+# ''[[Bombax albidum]]'' <small>Gagnep.</small>
-*''[[Bombax ceiba]]'' <small>L.</small> (syn. ''B. thorelii'' <small>Gagnep.</small>)
+# ''[[Bombax anceps]]'' <small>Pierre</small> (syn. ''B. kerrii'' & ''B. valetonii'')
-*''[[Bombax costatum]]'' <small>Pellegr. & Vuill.</small>
+# ''[[Bombax blancoanum]]'' <small>A.Robyns</small>
-*''[[Bombax insigne]]'' <small>Wall.</small> (syn. ''B. scopulorum'')
+# ''[[Bombax buonopozense]]'' <small>P. Beauv.</small>
+# ''[[Bombax cambodiense]]'' <small>Pierre</small>
-*''[[Bombax mossambicense]]'' <small>A.Robyns</small><ref name=GRINSpecies>{{cite web |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?1565 |title=GRIN Species Records of ''Bombax'' |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |accessdate=2013-04-27}}</ref>
+# ''[[Bombax ceiba]]'' <small>L.</small> (syn. ''B. thorelii'' <small>Gagnep.</small>)
+# ''[[Bombax costatum]]'' <small>Pellegr. & Vuill.</small>
+# ''[[Bombax insigne]]'' <small>Wall.</small> (syn. ''B. scopulorum'')
-===Formerly considered species===
+===Formerly included species===
-*''[[Ceiba aesculifolia]]'' <small>(Kunth) Britten & Baker</small> (as ''B. aesculifolium'' <small>Kunth</small>)
+* ''[[Ceiba aesculifolia]]'' <small>(Kunth) Britten & Baker</small> (as ''B. aesculifolium'' <small>Kunth</small>)
-*''[[Ceiba pentandra]]'' <small>(L.) Gaertn.</small> (as ''B. pentandrum'' <small>L.</small>)
+* ''[[Ceiba pentandra]]'' <small>(L.) Gaertn.</small> (as ''B. pentandrum'' <small>L.</small>)
-*''[[Cochlospermum orinocense]]'' <small>(Kunth) Steud.</small> (as ''B. orinocense'' <small>Kunth</small>)
+* ''[[Cochlospermum orinocense]]'' <small>(Kunth) Steud.</small> (as ''B. orinocense'' <small>Kunth</small>)
-*''[[Cochlospermum religiosum]]'' <small>(L.) Alston</small> (as ''B. gossypium'' <small>L.</small>)
+* ''[[Cochlospermum religiosum]]'' <small>(L.) Alston</small> (as ''B. gossypium'' <small>L.</small>)
-*''[[Cochlospermum vitifolium]]'' <small>(Willd.) Spreng.</small> (as ''B. vitifolium'' <small>Willd.</small>)
+* ''[[Cochlospermum vitifolium]]'' <small>(Willd.) Spreng.</small> (as ''B. vitifolium'' <small>Willd.</small>)
-*''[[Ochroma pyramidale]]'' <small>(Cav. ex Lam.) Urb.</small> (as ''B. pyramidale'' <small>Cav. ex Lam.</small>)
+* ''[[Ochroma pyramidale]]'' <small>(Cav. ex Lam.) Urb.</small> (as ''B. pyramidale'' <small>Cav. ex Lam.</small>)
-*''[[Pachira aquatica]]'' <small>Aubl.</small> (as ''P. macrocarpum'' <small>(Schltdl. & Cham.) K.Schum.</small>)
+* ''[[Pachira aquatica]]'' <small>Aubl.</small> (as ''P. macrocarpum'' <small>(Schltdl. & Cham.) K.Schum.</small>)
-*''[[Pachira emarginata]]'' <small>A.Rich.</small> (as ''B. emarginata'' <small>(A.Rich.) C.Wright</small>)
+* ''[[Pachira emarginata]]'' <small>A.Rich.</small> (as ''B. emarginata'' <small>(A.Rich.) C.Wright</small>)
-*''[[Pachira insignis]]'' <small>(Sw.) Savigny</small> (as ''B. affine'' <small>(Mart. & Zucc.) Ducke</small>)
+* ''[[Pachira insignis]]'' <small>(Sw.) Savigny</small> (as ''B. affine'' <small>(Mart. & Zucc.) Ducke</small>)
-*''[[Pseudobombax ellipticum]]'' <small>(Kunth) Dugand</small> (as ''B. ellipticum'' <small>Kunth</small>)
+* ''[[Pseudobombax ellipticum]]'' <small>(Kunth) Dugand</small> (as ''B. ellipticum'' <small>Kunth</small>)
-*''[[Pseudobombax grandiflorum]]'' <small>(Cav.) A.Robyns</small> (as ''B. cyathophorum'' <small>(Casar.) K.Schum.</small>)
+* ''[[Pseudobombax grandiflorum]]'' <small>(Cav.) A.Robyns</small> (as ''B. cyathophorum'' <small>(Casar.) K.Schum.</small>)
-*''[[Pseudobombax septenatum]]'' <small>(Jacq.) Dugand</small> (as ''B. heptaphyllum'' <small>L.</small>)<ref name=GRINSpecies/>
+* ''[[Pseudobombax septenatum]]'' <small>(Jacq.) Dugand</small> (as ''B. heptaphyllum'' <small>L.</small>)<ref name=GRINSpecies/>
+* ''[[Rhodognaphalon mossambicense]]'' <small>(A.Robyns) A.Robyns</small><ref>[https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:112275-1 Plants of the World Online (POWO): ''Bombax mossambicense'' A.Robyns (retrieved 10 April 2020)]</ref> (as ''[[Bombax mossambicense]]'' <small>A.Robyns</small><ref name=GRINSpecies>{{cite web |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?1565 |title=GRIN Species Records of ''Bombax'' |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |access-date=2013-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924095716/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?1565 |archive-date=2015-09-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>)
-==Castle of the Devil==
-According to the folklore of [[Trinidad and Tobago]], the Castle of the Devil is a huge silk cotton tree growing deep in the forest in which [[Bazil (demon)|Bazil]] the demon of death was imprisoned by a carpenter. The carpenter tricked the devil into entering the tree in which he carved seven rooms, one above the other, into the trunk. Folklore claims that Bazil still resides in that tree.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thetobagonews.com/opinion/-Tobagos-Avatar--The-tree-of-life-141135673.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2013-04-28 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://archive.is/20130630103605/http://www.thetobagonews.com/opinion/-Tobagos-Avatar--The-tree-of-life-141135673.html |archivedate=2013-06-30 |df= }}</ref>
 ==References==
@@ Line 65: / Line 60: @@
 ==Further reading==
-*{{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| publisher = Bulletin du Jardin botanique de l'&#201;tat a Bruxelles, Vol. 33, No. 1| jstor = 3667210|language=fr}}
+* {{citation| last = Robyns| first = André| title = Essai de monographie du genre Bombax s.l. (Bombacaceae)| journal = Bulletin du Jardin botanique de l'État à Bruxelles| volume = 33| issue = 1| date = March 31, 1963| pages = 1–144| doi = 10.2307/3667210| publisher = Bulletin du Jardin botanique de l'État à Bruxelles, Vol. 33, No. 1| jstor = 3667210|language=fr}}
 ==External links==
-{{commonscat|Bombax}}
+{{Commons category|Bombax}}
 {{Wikispecies}}
-* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031019161017/http://www.haryana-online.com/Flora/semul.htm Haryana Online: Semul]
 {{WestAfricanPlants|Bombax}}
 {{Taxonbar|from=Q719028}}
+{{Authority control}}
-[[Category:Bombacoideae]]
+[[Category:Bombax| ]]
-[[Category:Malvaceae| ]]
 [[Category:Malvaceae genera]]