Role in Nature:
Yellow silk cotton tree’s bright yellow flowers are an important nectar source for pollinators like bees and butterflies. This tree’s deep root system helps stabilize the soil, particularly in dry, rocky habitats where it is commonly found. This helps prevent soil erosion and land degradation. Yellow silk cotton tree is sometimes used in reforestation and ecological restoration efforts in its native range, as it can thrive in degraded and disturbed habitats. Yellow Silk Cotton tree plays a significant role in the carbon cycle by sequestering, storing, and slowly releasing carbon, contributing to the overall balance of carbon in the ecosystem and helping mitigate climate change.
Cultural Significance:
The bright yellow flowers of the tree are used as temple offerings in Theravada Buddhist rituals and ceremonies. In Hinduism, the tree is associated with various deities and is used in religious practices and ceremonies.
Medical Significance:
- Extracts from the leaves and other parts of the Yellow Silk Cotton plant have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
- The plant’s extracts exhibit antimicrobial effects against various pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
- Compounds isolated from the Yellow Silk Cotton tree show anticancer properties and may aid in cancer treatment.
- In traditional medicine of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, different parts of the tree are used to treat skin diseases, fever, and digestive issues.
Did You Know?
The Yellow silk cotton tree can be identified by its deeply
furrowed bark, palmately 5-lobed leaves and bright golden
yellow flowers. The tree yields a gum known as gum katira
from a juice orange in colour that exudes from the bark.
The flowers bloom in terminal panicles, appearing in early
spring (February-April) when the tree is leafless. The
showy, eye-catching flowers are an important identifying
characteristic of Yellow silk cotton tree, signaling the
arrival of spring in its native range.
Role in Nature:
Yellow silk cotton tree’s bright yellow flowers are an important nectar source for pollinators like bees and butterflies. This tree’s deep root system helps stabilize the soil, particularly in dry, rocky habitats where it is commonly found. This helps prevent soil erosion and land degradation. Yellow silk cotton tree is sometimes used in reforestation and ecological restoration efforts in its native range, as it can thrive in degraded and disturbed habitats. Yellow Silk Cotton tree plays a significant role in the carbon cycle by sequestering, storing, and slowly releasing carbon, contributing to the overall balance of carbon in the ecosystem and helping mitigate climate change.
Cultural Significance:
Cultural
Significance:
The bright yellow flowers of the tree are used as temple offerings in Theravada Buddhist rituals and ceremonies. In Hinduism, the tree is associated with various deities and is used in religious practices and ceremonies.
Medical Significance:
Medical
Significance:
- Extracts from the leaves and other parts of the Yellow Silk Cotton plant have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
- The plant’s extracts exhibit antimicrobial effects against various pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
- Compounds isolated from the Yellow Silk Cotton tree show anticancer properties and may aid in cancer treatment.
- In traditional medicine of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, different parts of the tree are used to treat skin diseases, fever, and digestive issues.
Did You Know?
The Yellow silk cotton tree can be identified by its deeply
furrowed bark, palmately 5-lobed leaves and bright golden
yellow flowers. The tree yields a gum known as gum katira
from a juice orange in colour that exudes from the bark.
The flowers bloom in terminal panicles, appearing in early
spring (February-April) when the tree is leafless. The
showy, eye-catching flowers are an important identifying
characteristic of Yellow silk cotton tree, signaling the
arrival of spring in its native range.