2. Family6 :Bombacaceae (The cotton family) Systematic Positions Divisions : Spermatophyta Sub-division: Angiospermae Class ; Dicotyledonae Sub-class: Polypetalae Series: Thalamiflorae Order: Mailaves Family; Bombacaceae

3. Distribution  Comprises of 22 genera and 140 species.  It is an exclusively Tropical Family.

4. Vegetative Characteristics Habit: Tall and thick trees. Roots: Tap roots Stem: Tall,thick trunk,branched,resin duct and mucilage cells occur. Leaf: Alternate Simple Palmately compound Decidious Entire or Digitate,stipulated.

5. Floral characters Inforescence  Flowers : Solitary Large and showy Bractate Actinomorphic Bisexual and hypogynous.  Calyx :5 sepals. Free or basally connate. Valvate,inferior.  Corolla:5 petals Contorted in bud Inferior.

6.  Androcium 5-many stamens. Free or monadelphos. Anther 1-2 celled,longitudinal dehiscion. Smooth pollen grains.  Gynoecium 2-5 carpels,syncarpous Superior ovary Axil placentation Single style,Capitate or lobed stigma.  Fruits Capsule or berry like.  Seeds Smooth,non-endospermic.

7. Important genera  Bombax: Bombax ceiba Bombax malabaricum.  Ceiba: Ceiba patendra. Ceiba malabarica.  Ochroma: Ochroma lagapus.

8. Ecomnomic Importance  Floses: From Bombax ceiba  Light timber: From Bombax malabaricum  Medicinal:Bark of Adasonia is used as the substitute for qunine.