Guangzhou has been urged to replace silkcotton trees along the city's streets because they do not provide much shade, reports Guangzhou Daily.

"The silkcotton tree has a small amount of foliage at the best of times and produces no leaves at all for several months of the year. In a hot city like Guangzhou, people need shade-giving trees," said Mei Jiefu, a delegate to the Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference.

The silkcotton tree, or bombax, is a tropical, deciduous tree with bright red flowers. Guangzhou's official tree, the silkcotton is popular and can be found throughout the city.

Experts agree that the silkcotton may not be a wise choice as a city tree. Besides the problem of shade, many people are allergic to the kapok seeds it yields.

"We only need a few of them to serve as the symbol of the city," said Li Baosong, a specialist with the Municipal Park and Forestry Bureau.

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