Question

Red cotton silk is obtained from
A) Salmalia malabarica
B) Cochlospermum
C) Calotropis gigantea
D) Calotropis procera

Answer 1

Red cotton silk is obtained from specific cotton trees whose common name is Malabar silk cotton tree. They belong to the family known as Malvaceae. It is a type of deciduous tree where red flowers having five petals are born in spring.

Complete answer:
Red cotton silk is obtained from Salmalia malabarica also known as Bombax ceiba. Bombax ceiba. They grow mostly to a height of twenty meters but can as well grow up to sixty meters in wet tropical regions. The leaves of the trees radiate from a central point and the length of the petiole is twenty centimeter. The flowers are bright red in colour and the number of seeds produced is multiple. Cochlo spermum is also a silk cotton tree but it produces yellow cotton silk owing to the yellow flowers that are borne by it. They are also used in temples for religious purposes. Calotropis gigantea produces clusters of flowers that are either white or lavender in colour. It is used for not only medicinal purposes but also to make ropes, sewing threads and fishing nets. Calotropis procera. It has medicinal uses in the treatment of various digestive disorders as well as cramps and aches.
Hence the correct answer is option (A)Salmalia malabarica.

Note: Apart from being used to produce red cotton silk Bombax ceiba is also used as a food ingredient which is quite widely used in Thailand and in Southern India as well.