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Katesavar / काटेसावर / Silk Cotton Tree / Bombax ceiba L.

Local Name: Katesavar / काटेसावर

Common Name: Silk Cotton Tree

Botanical Name: Bombax ceiba L.

Status & Habitat

Habitat: Tree

Occurrence: Hot, dry river valleys, savannah

Season of Availability: Spring and summer months

Geography: East Asia

Method of Propagation: Seed propagation

Part used for Propagation: Seeds

Edible Parts

Edible Parts: Flowers

Can be Eaten Raw: No

Method of Consumption

Raw: No

Ripe: Yes

Both Raw & Ripe: No

Dangerous Form to Consume: Raw plant

As Food: Cooked as a vegetable; seeds made into oil.

As Medicine: Plant parts consumed to treat cholera, dysentary, abdominal pain, ulcers.
Cooking Without Prior Boiling: N/A

Boiling Before Cooking: N/A

Pickling: N/A

Brining: N/A

Fermenting: N/A

Drying for later Consumption: N/A

Overall Method: Flowers and buds cooked in curries. Young leaves cooked as a vegetable. Ripe seeds eaten roasted or used for oil. Young roots consumed raw or roasted.

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

Nutritional Benefit: Contains starch (carbohydrates) and glucose.

Medicinal Benefit: Helps treat cholera, abdominal pain, ulcers and dysentary.

Tribal Wisdom

Tribal Wisdom: Young roots are used to treat cholera and abdominal pain; sap helps treat dysentary; shoots are used for ulcers.

Recipes

Tribal Recipe: Sabji: Wash, halve, remove petals and stamens from buds. Boil till soft. Heat oil, add haldi, hing, mustard seeds, cumin and boiled buds. Stir-fry 5-6 mins. Add garam masala, serve hot.