Large-sized tree, up to 30 m high; bark whitish, covered with stout, hard, conical prickles, occasionally without; branches spreading nearly horizontally, prickly; young twigs stout, with prominent leaf-scars. Leaves usually crowded at the end of twigs, with 5–9 unequal leaflets, the outer much smaller than the inner ones; leaflets obovate, oblanceolate, 10–40 by 5–12.5 cm; apex acute to acuminate; base cuneate to attenuate; chartaceous, sparsely hairy and glaucous on lower surface, then glabrescent; reticulate veins distinct on lower surface, secondary nerves in 13–25 pairs, arched and anastomosing near margins. Petioles 14–35 cm, glabrous; petiolules 1–1.5 cm. Flowers solitary, at the upper leaf-scars; buds ellipsoid, ca 3 by 2 cm; pedicel ca 2 cm, glabrous. Calyx urceolate to tubular, ca 3. –3.5 by 2–2.5 cm with 5(–4) unequal lobes, sparsely hairy, glabrescent outside, woolly hairy inside. Petals red or dark orange, occasionally white; obovate to oblanceolate or slightly spathulate, 9–13 by 2–2.5 cm, erect then recurved. Stamens numerous, 6–8 cm long, united at base to a short staminal tube, enclosing the ovary and lower part of style, then divided to 5 groups, each group splitting, only one stamen or none to attach the style; anther 1-celled, reniform, then twisted. Ovary ovoid, 5-longitudinal grooves, glabrous; style cylindrical, pinkish, glabrous; stigma dark pink with 5 cohering lobes, occasionally spreading. Capsule elongated with 5 longitudinal ridges, usually curved to one side, woody, silky within, 18–25 by 2.5–3 cm, dehiscent. Seeds numerous.
In mixed deciduous and dry dipterocarp forest; altitude: 150–500 m. Flowering and fruiting: January–March.
The cotton is used for stuffing mattresses and pillows. Wood is used for toys and indoor furniture.
| Name | Language | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ngiu pa dok daeng (งิ้วป่าดอกแดง)(Northern) | Thai | THA |
|
