Family: Malvaceae
Common name: Floss silk tree, Mexican Silk Cotton Tree, Paineira-rosa, Tree of wool, Palo borracho
Floss Silk Tree is a stunningly beautiful tree ideal for home gardens, parks, or walkways. Native to parts of South America, this tree is not commonly seen in India.
This particular specimen photographed for the page was found in Terminal 2 of Bangalore International airport that boasts of many imported plant species grown in a controlled environment.
Tree characteristics
The tree can reach heights of 15-25 meters with a bulbous, bottle-shaped, thorny trunk that can reach up to 2 m in girth. The characteristic bulged stem of the Floss Silk Tree helps to store water and hence the plant is very drought-tolerant. It also prevents animals and humans from climbing the tree.
When the tree is young, the stem is green and has the capability to perform photosynthesis. Leaves are palmately compound with 5-7 leaflets. Floss silk tree flowers are a sight to behold – large and showy, pinkish-red flowers that cover the tree in blooming season.
These flowers are 12-15 cm in diameter and are similar to Hibiscus flowers, since they both belong to the Malvaceae family.
They have a white or yellow throat with dark red or maroon markings radiating from the center towards the tips of the petals.
After pollination, the flowers produce large oval fruits that contain silky fibers covering the seeds, giving the tree its name Floss Silk Tree. These are not of great quality, but are used for stuffing pillows and upholstery.
Gardening Tips
Floss Silk Trees prefer good sunlight, and well-drained soil. The water stored in bulbous trunks make them very tolerant to drought, requiring watering only during harsh summers.
Once the tree is established in the soil, it needs very little care, watering, or fertilization. Floss silk trees are mostly grown as ornamental trees in parks, gardens, walkways, and parks.
They should not be planted very close to where people walk since the prickly thorns on the tree trunk can harm humans and pets. Tree trunks are also delicate, prone to harm when people try to pry off the thorns.
These trees are deciduous, shedding leaves just before winter season to conserve water.
Uses of Floss Silk Tree
They have some medicinal uses in reducing cholesterol, and also in treating wounds. The wood is light weight and used in making canoes. They are also used to make paper and wood pulp. Bark of the Floss Silk Tree is used for making ropes.
Propagation is through seeds and stem cuttings.
Photographed at: Bangalore Airport, Terminal 2
