Ilavu, semal in Hindi, is the red silk-cotton tree, a huge, thorny-trunked tree that covers itself in crimson flowers on bare branches in late winter. Birds crowd the trees for nectar. Its pods release silky floss used to stuff pillows. In Rajasthan and north-east India the fleshy flower buds are cooked as a vegetable. It is a different tree from kapok, Ceiba pentandra.
- Botanical name
- Bombax ceiba L.
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Tamil
- Ilavu
- Hindi
- Semal
- Sanskrit
- Śālmali
- Parts used
- Flowers as food in some kitchens, Floss, Gum in lists
- Habit
- Huge deciduous red silk-cotton with crimson flowers
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Ilavu
It is a tall deciduous tree, often twenty-five metres or more, with buttresses and conical thorns on the trunk.
Branches spread horizontally in tiers.
The leaves are palmate, with five to seven long leaflets.
Large, cup-shaped, crimson or orange flowers with thick petals open on leafless branches in February and March.
The pods are woody and oblong, splitting to release seeds in white floss.
Traditional use of Ilavu
Kitchen
Flower buds and calyces are cooked as semal sabzi in Rajasthan and as a vegetable in north-east India.
Rajasthani and north-east Indian food practice
Household
Semal floss is stuffed into pillows and quilts.
Indian household practice
Ayurveda
Its gum, mocharasa, is used in Ayurveda for diarrhoea and bleeding complaints.
Ayurvedic practice
Modern notes on Ilavu
Its soft wood is used for matchsticks, plywood and packing cases.
The flowers produce large amounts of nectar, an important late-winter food for birds and insects.
Semal floss is lighter than cotton but too short and smooth to spin well.
Ilavu safety
The flowers and buds are a traditional food when cooked. Floss dust can irritate the airways.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows from India to South-east Asia and southern China.
Mynas, bulbuls, sunbirds, crows and squirrels visit the flowers, and many help pollinate them.
Wind carries the floss-covered seeds far.
Related plants
Also in Malvaceae
Questions about Ilavu
Is Ilavu kapok?
No. Kapok is Ceiba pentandra.
When does Ilavu flower?
In February and March, on bare branches.
Are the flowers of Ilavu eaten?
Yes, cooked in some regions.
Why do birds visit Ilavu?
Its flowers are full of nectar.
Why is the trunk thorny?
Young trunks grow thorns that protect the bark.
Sources
- Bombax ceiba L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q13399160 (Bombax ceiba)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.