MYSORE AND C'OORG. 29 



Fig.— Wight Ml. t. 39. Bedl; Fl. Sylv. L 82. 

 References. — Fl. of BHL Ind. -,^{01. ofEcon. 

 Prod, of Ind. 



An umbragetms tree of the deciduotts and mixed 

 zones. Ascending the Ghats, it attains a magnificient 

 size, the immense buttressed trunk often eliciting, 

 from the tourist, expressions of admiration and 

 surprise. 



The 'timber, however, is soft, white, spongy, and, 

 except under water, very perishable. It is utilised to a 

 limited extent for planking, packing cases, toys and 

 floats, &c. A medicinal gum; exudes from the trunk, 

 the latter being thickly covered with sharp spiues, 

 which eventually become blunted and scattered as 

 the tree ages. 



Gr. Anderson states that the thorns are some- 

 times chewed by the hill people. The fine hairs, 

 (floss) which cover the seed constitute " silk cotton," 

 and it should be observed here that Bomhax malabari- 

 cum is the red-flowered silk-cotton tree. This dis- 

 tinction is necessary as there are two other trees, 

 having white and yellow flowers respectively, which 

 produce floss of nearly the same quahty also known 

 as " silk cotton." 



Of the latter, the white-flowered species, Erioden- 

 dron anfraetuosum, produces the article (floss) 

 known on the continent of Europe as Kapoh. The 

 other silk cottons, including the one under notice, 

 are inferior to. Kapoh. 



The large red flowers of this tree appear in great 

 profusion on the naked branches in February and 

 March, the species is then a conspicuous object in 

 many parts of the dry forest zone. 



A few weeks later the ground underneath will bes 

 whitened with snowy floss. 



1 



