Red silk cotton tree (Bombax ceiba)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This datasheet is pending revision and updating; its contents are currently derived from FAO's Animal Feed Resources Information System (1991-2002) and from Bo Göhl's Tropical Feeds (1976-1982).

Datasheet

Description

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Common names

Bombax, kapokier indien, red silk cotton tree, Indian kapok

Species

Bombax ceiba L. [Bombacaceae]

Synonyms

Bombax malabaricum DC., Salmalia malabarica (DC.) Schott & Endl., Gossampinus malabaricus (DC.) Merr.

Related feed(s)

Description

A tree cultivated for the fine lustrous material (kapok) obtained from the seed hairs. The flowers are collected for human consumption. The leaves are 5-8 cm long and felted with star-shaped hairs.

Distribution

Native to India.

Nutritional aspects

Ruminants

The leaves are lopped together with the twigs for fodder.

Nutritional tables

Tables of chemical composition and nutritional value

Red silk cotton tree (Bombax ceiba), leaves, fresh

Avg: average or predicted value; SD: standard deviation; Min: minimum value; Max: maximum value; Nb: number of values (samples) used