N. 0. MAI.VAOFF,. 
201 
closely placed, on long .glabrous petioles, digitate ; leaflets 5-7, 
on short, winged stalks, 3-5 in., lanceolate, acute at both ends, 
finely cuspidate, entire or serrulate near tip, glabrous, paler 
beneath, stipules i in., linear-filiform, deciduous. Flowers 
cream-white, faintly scented; l|-2 in., in axillary clusters of 
2-8, appearing with the young leaves at the ends of branches, 
drooping; pedicels about 1 in., no bracteoles. Calyx £ in., 
tubular-campanula te, with very shallow lobes, glabrous outside, 
lined With dense oppressed hairs at the base within ; petals 
twice as long as Calyx, spreading, obovate-oblong, acute, densely 
tomentose outside, nearly glabrous within. Stamens a little 
longer than the petiole, erect. Ovary glabrous. Capsule 3J-4 in., 
surrounded at base by persistent Calyx, ovoid-fusiform, blunt, 
tardily dehiscent from base upwards by 5 septifragal membran- 
ous valves, 5-celled, cells densely lined with long white silky 
hair which is deciduous, so that the valves are ultimately 
glabrous and areolate within. Seeds over £ in., compressed- 
globose, quite glabrous, blackish, each surrounded by a copious 
crumpled mass of silky hair. Though each seed appears to have 
a separate investment of cotton, this is quite unconnected with 
the testa and really arises from the inner side of the wall of the 
capsule and from the central axis. It is ultimately separated 
from these, and is then a mere stuffing round the seeds. This 
silk-cotton is called Kapok in Malay. A bright red gum is 
afforded by the stem. 
Uses : — The tree yields a gum, called Ratyan gond, which 
is astringent and used as a remedy for bowel complaints 
(Watt.) 
The unripe fruits are regarded as demulcent and astrin- 
gent. 
The roots are also used medicinally, like those of Bombax 
Malabaricum (which see). 
“ The leaves are ground into a paste and administered in 
gonorrhoea” (Surgeon Thomas). 
“ The gum is also used in the incontinence of urine of 
children ” (.Surgeon-Major Ratton.) 
26 
