Myths, traditions and fate of multipurpose <i>Bombax ceiba</i> L.<i> </i>- An appraisal

Abstract

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Plants form an integral part of many rites, rituals, folk tales, customs and traditions. Silk cotton tree (<i style="">Bombax ceiba </i>L.), locally known as <i style="">semal</i>, is one such tree species, quite popular among various tribal communities. The plant is being exploited largely for medicinal and commercial purposes but traditional burning of this tree in <i style="">Holika-dahan</i>, which is an important festival of North India, is jeopardizing its survival in the tribal dominated Udaipur district of Rajasthan. An ethnobotanical survey carried out revealed that about 1,500-2,000 trees or branches of <i style="">B. ceiba </i>were cut and burnt during <i style="">Holi</i> festival in the villages around the city. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop some sustainable conservation strategies and create awareness among rural and urban communities in order to preserve such a tree of immense medicinal value.</smarttagtype></smarttagtype>