Young tree cotton has plenty of conical spines on the trunk, which protect the bark when animals rub against it.
When the seed pods burst open, the wind can carry the small seeds wrapped in cotton for over 500 m.
Conservation & Importance
IUCN Red List: Least Concern
The nectar, pollen and even the bark can serve as food for bees and birds, including the Chinese bulbuls and Japanese white-eyes, which are some common bird species in Hong Kong.