2ND DIVISION > DISTRICT SRI AMAN > SRI AMAN > Environment > Trees
The Silk Cotton Trees of Sri Aman Town
Scientific name: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Synonym name: Eriodendron anfractuosum DC.
Common name: White Silk Cotton Tree, Kapok Tree
The several silk-cotton trees in Sri Aman are near 100 years old and dates back to the reign of the Brooke administration in Sarawak in 1840s. Silk-cotton trees are known for its massive size, huge roots buttresses complex, and snow like cotton that covers the whole field during its blossom every couple of years.
Each of these silk-cotton trees value a million ringgit in Malaysia. For
example the 80 years old silk-cotton tree in Kuching's Padang Merdeka is
estimated worth RM1,092,436.20 in 2008.
There are five more old cotton trees on the hill of
Administrative Center
The administrative center, The Resident Office, is on the hill opposite Fort
Alice. In 1964 the office was a wooden office and these four cotton trees were
already well drown.
This huge old cotton tree stands majestically on the edge of hill of Resident Office.
On this hill were about 5 grand old Silk-Cotton Tree Ceiba pentandra (Eriodendron anfractuosum) planted by the British. Today one still can be seen standing tall on the hill (see above photo)
The old wooden British Colonial Treasury office was long gone making way for
the present concrete building.
There were two old government quarter at the location now the government building.
During the British era in Sabah and Sarawajk flowering trees are usually planted
in parks, big gardens, campuses of government establishments and educational
institutions.
The tree's large fruit pods contain silky fiber used for insulation, as a
stuffing in mattresses, life preservers, pillows, and cushions.
Seeds from the ripe fruit pods contain oil which is edible and used in soap
making and burned for illumination.
The largest of these heritage silk-cotton trees is this one on the hill of Fort Alice. This old tree stand on guard over looking Lupar River (left) and Jalan Astana (right)
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