Bombax

Morphological Summary

Genus of large tropical trees in the family Malvaceae (subfamily Bombacoideae), native to southern and southeastern Asia and northern Australia. Their spectacular scarlet-red flowers, which emerge before the leaves on bare branches, make them one of the most impressive flowering trees in the world. The trunk, often armed with conical prickles, harbours spongy water-storing tissue. The seeds are surrounded by a silky fibre (kapok).