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| (File Photo) |
The Mumian flower of the cotton tree bombax ceiba is found in the south China. The tree's striking bloom, as big as a rice bowl with five red petals and golden stamen, has been adopted as the flower of many cities, such as Guangzhou in Guangdong Province and Panzhihua in Sichuan Province.
The blooms are usually picked in spring and after being dried are made into Chinese traditional medicine to treat diarrhea, dysentery and toxins.
It has almost no smell and is neither "hot" nor "cold," in TCM terms. Its root and stalk, when ground, can work as an astringent and treat pimples.
In some southern villages, locals dry the flowers and use them in meals and drinks. The barks is often drunk to treat rheumatism and toothache.
The cotton tree loves sun, outgrowing neighboring trees as it tries to get as much as sunshine and water as possible.
This aggressive and ambitious spirit has been admired by Chinese people since ancient times.
Even when about to die, the flowers still keep their bright-red color and drop to the ground as though without hesitation, earning the name of "hero's blood."
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