Semal (Silk Cotton) tree is a type of native cotton tree with large red flowers. It grows rapidly to attain height up to 30 m and a girth of 3-4 m.

The leaves of the tree are compound with 5-8 lance-shaped leaflets. The leaves have a unique look to them differentiating the tree from others.

The tree bears beautiful red flowers which paints the whole landscape in an enchanting red hue. After a few months of beautiful flower show the plant produces large number of Ping-Pong ball sized fruit. The fruits contain many seeds surrounded by a dense mat of cotton like fibers. These fibers can be seen floating everywhere around the tree when the fruit dries and opens up spreading the seeds.

The villagers collect the fruits for these fibers and extract the cotton substance called ‘Kopak’. The fibers are almost pure cellulose and have a low thermal conductivity, but they do not lend themselves to spinning. So they are used for insulation, filling economically priced pillows, Sleeping Bags, mattresses, sofas etc.

It is widely planted in parks and on roadsides there because of its beautiful red flowers and for its shade.