Indian cuisine relies heavily on spices and condiments to give each dish its own distinct flavour and zest. Mother Nature has endowed us with a wide variety of condiments, which can be used for culinary, ornamental, medicinal, or health reasons. Bombex ceiba, a member of the bombacaeae family, sometimes known as the semal, is one such imposing deciduous tree. Semal is indigenous to Africa, Australia, Asia, and India. The tree produces magnificent deep red blossoms and, when fully ripe, a tiny capsule filled with cotton-like white fibres. This tree's fruit, which is produced as buds, is prepared, consumed, and pickled. As fabric filler, cotton from the tree is used.

Other Names: Roktosimul, Shimul, Simul, Mochras, Silk Cotton Tree, Red Kapok Tree, Simal Tree Bombax malabaricum DC, Arbre En soie De Coton, Fromager, Shemlo, Shemlano Gund (Gum), Semal, Deokapas, Shimul, Mochras (Gum), Bombax malabaricum DC, Sanvar, Sanvari Cha Deek, Sembhal, Gond Supari, Simble, Mocharas (Gum), Rakta Shalmali, Panchparnil, Sembhal, Mooshli, Musly, Mushali, Museli, Ceiba, Semul, Salmali, Lal Musli, Red Musli, Sambal Musli, Muslie, Shimool, Simble Musli

Semal has been widely used for its flowers, seeds, and leaves due to its beneficial effects on health and other wellness-related factors. In truth, our indigenous people have been using this miraculous herb since ancient times, keeping this tree safe for decades. Strong antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, and oxytocic activities are thought to exist in the tree. Last but not least, this tree is resistant to fire.

Common names for this tree include red silk-cotton tree, Indian cottonwood, and Indian kapok. Other regional names for it include Ilav, Mulalilav in Malayalam, Himila in Assamese, Safed Shimalo in Gujarati, Kanntisenbal, Rakta Senbal in Hindi, Kempuburuga in Kannada, and Buruga in Telugu.