Family : Cochlospermaceae
Common Name : Katira
English Name : Yellow Silk-Cotton
Hindi Name : Galgal
Telugu Name : Kondagogu
Bengali Name : Sonali Simul
Tree Characteristics :
Katira is a small, rather crooked-branched, more or less deciduous tree growing about 7 metrestall.The plant is used locally for the its gum. Considered a sacred tree in its native range, it is often cultivated near temples where the flowers are used as temple offerings.
Nursery:
Fruits are collected by lopping the branches or from the floor, kept in open for sometime and then the seeds are separated by trashing. Seed remains viable for 1 to 2 months. No. of seeds per Kg 13,400; Germination percentage is 8; Soaking in warm water for 24 hours. Seeds are broadcasted in primary beds in June and seedlings are pricked out to polythene bags when six months old.
Economic Uses :
Ø The oil cakes from the pressed seed can be eaten
Ø The insoluble gum obtained from the plant can be used as a substitute for tragacanth when making ice cream.
Ø The gum obtained from this plant is sweetish, cooling and sedative. It is used in the treatment of coughs and gonorrhea. The dried leaves and flowers are stimulant.
Ø An oil is obtained from the seed.The source of an insoluble gum that can be used as a substitute for gum tragacanth.
Ø Gum tragacanth, obtained from several Astragalusspp, has a wide range of uses including in cosmetics, calico printing, confectionary, medicinally as a suspending medium for insoluble medicines etc
Ø The seeds possess a short but very soft and elastic floss. This floss is much too short to be of any service as a textile, it has been classed as a 'silk cotton'.
The wood is extremely soft.
