Shalmali- शाल्मली

What a Sunny day it was! I was just back from my leave and felt a sudden rise in the weather of Jaigad. Eight days before I was going to leave the weather wasn’t that cool, but it still felt good. And now I was literally experiencing the Konkan summer! The trees were pretty empty without leaves, a bit of the green belt of grass was faded, and heat waves were dancing in the middle of the road.  Yess! I was given a literal warm welcome by summer here. I went to seek a shade for a 5-minute break from my agriculture demonstration practice behind the office. And that’s when I saw it!

A straight, high, mature figure with a lot of small red dotted crowns on its head was shining in the sun. Guess who it was?  It was a tree called Shalmali! What a lovely name! Just like it’s aura! Flooded with dark pink flowers giving a crown vibe without single leaves on the stem.

Scientific name: Bombax ceiba
Latin name: Salmalia malabarica
Vernacular name:  red silk cotton
Local names: शाल्मली, काटेसावर, शिवरी, सेमल 
Classification:
Kingdom: Plantae 
Division: Magnioliophyta
Class: Magnniolipsida
Order: Malvales
Family: Bombacaceae
Genus: Bombax
Species: B. ceiba
After having this dreamy encounter, I started to inquire and search got to know remarkable things.

This tree welcomes Spring with full of flowers and stands first in row to get spring’s favour. Katesawar is deciduous tree native to India. This Asian tropical tree has a straight trunk and flower has dark pink colour with five petals. It reaches to average height 20m. Katesawar has a full spiny body, from trunk to limb it bears conical spines.

It has countless uses in medicine but I don’t want to go in deep. Fruit, flower, seeds, bark every part of its body has a significant value in Ayurveda. It is use in match boxes and sticks as it is light in weight. Leaves of Katesawar are edible; rabbits, deer and squirrels congregate to have it. And for me it is the shiny calm and beautiful friend who is part of my tiny breaks and endless thoughts to cool down me.

I am excited to see the various trees that will stand to greet me in the next few seasons here. Will keep you posted.