Shalmali, Silk Cotton Tree (Salmalia malabarica) Description of plant Shalmali tree grows in tropical humid conditions and reaches height up to 20 meters and old trees reach maximum height of 60mts in wet tropical weathers. This tree is known as king of forest because of its beautiful flowers and massive size. This plant contains deciduous leaves and straight and stout trunk with light grey color and it bears hard, sharp and conical thorns. Semal tree bears red colored beautiful flowers