Bombax ceiba, Elavu, Ilavu, Mullilavu, Red silk cotton tree, Indian bombax, ഇലവ്, മുള്ളിലവ്

Family: Malvaceae
Vernacular names: Elavu, Ilavu, Mullilavu, ഇലവ്, മുള്ളിലവ് (Malayalam), Red silk cotton tree, Indian bombax (English), Salamali (Sanskrit), Pagun (Hindi), llavu, Mullilavu (Tamil)
Distribution: Tropical Asia and New Guinea
Description: Large trees. Leaves digitately-compound, alternate, stipulate; stipules small. Flowers bisexual, dark crimson. Fruit a capsule, downy tomentose, cylindrical, blackish and glabrous at maturity; seeds numerous, pyriform, smooth, dark brown, embedded in white cotton.
Habit: Tree
Habitat: Moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests, also in the plains
Flowering & Fruiting: January-April

Parts used: Leaves, flowers, fruits and exudates
Properties & Uses: Cooling and expectorant. The paste of flower and leaves is applied externally to relieve swellings, boils and various skin diseases. The young fruits are used as an expectorant, diuretic and also used for the treatment of chronic inflammation, ulceration of the bladder and kidneys. The infusion of the stem bark is used as a styptic and also for fomenting wounds.
Systems of Medicines: Ayurveda, Folk, Unani,
Traditional Uses:The paste form of leaves and flowers applied externally to relieve swellings and various skin diseases.
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