An icon from my hometown

In the world, including China, many cities all contain their own municipal flower. In Guangzhou the flower is Kapok which grows in one of the taller trees in China, called the Kapok tree.
It is about 7 or 8 floors high. It blooms in early Spring March, April. It first grows after the leaves have fallen, so you can not see the greenery. To see bare branches with flower and no leaves is very unusual and strikingly beautiful.
The flower has five arc-shaped petals. The petal is very big and heavy, because its colour is a beautiful red. It is also called"red cottonor"or"hero flower". The implied meaning is one of ambition, high conviction and strength, so it has become Guangzhou symbol. People at the sight of the red cotton will think of the city - Guangzhou.
In fact, you can make a delicious sweet with this flower. In the rainy season of Guangzhou the pistils from this flower are also used to make a warm material for clothes which are good to keep out the cold. Kapok can be turned into Chinese herbal medicine as well.
The Kapok is not only appreciated for this visual or edibility value, but also as a beneficial medicine.