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Magnificent canopy of bright yellow
The Kinihiriya is a small tree growing upto 7.5 m. The bark is smooth and pale grey. It is sparsely clothed with leaves and sheds them at the height of the flowering season. The leaves appear at the tips of the branches and are palmately lobed.

The flowers of the Kinihiriya are the most conspicuous part of the tree. They are large, growing upto about 10 cm, buttercup shaped and bright yellow.
The stamens are orange. The flowering season is between February and April, particularly after the leaves are shed.

The fruits are brown and oval shaped. They come in the form of a capsule made up of five segments. The capsule splits open to release the seeds which are embedded in the silky cotton contained within. This silky cotton is said to induce sleep when stuffed into pillows.

This tree is known in English as the Yellow Silk Cotton tree. Like the other silk cotton species its seeds are contained in a mass of silky fluff, hence the name.

It is also referred to as the Torchwood tree due to the flammable gum exuded from the bark. This gum also has medicinal properties. The Tamil name is Kongu. In Sinhala it is known as the Ela imbul and Kinihiriya. The scientific name is Cochlospermum religiosum. Cochlospermum because the seed resembles a snail. Religiosum because the flowers are used as temple offerings.

Introduced from India the Kinihiriya is found growing in the dry, hilly areas, particularly on rocky ground. Considering the almost barren ground it thrives on, the magnificent flowers are all the more surprising. In Colombo look out for this tree on Fife Road. Compiled by Ruk Rakaganno, The Tree Society of Sri Lanka.

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