Botanical Classification
The Kapok Tree , scientifically get it on as Ceiba pentandra , belongs to the Malvaceae mob , which include hibiscus , cotton , and cocoa . It is part of the genus Ceiba , comprising turgid , tropical trees often revered in cultural tradition . normally ring kapok , ceiba , or silk - cotton tree , Ceiba pentandra is a deciduous or semi - evergreen tree , depending on climate . Its categorisation within the rescript Malvales aligns it with other tropic species adapted to warm , humid environments . The species name “ pentandra ” refers to its five - parted stamen , a flowered feature . antecedently placed in the Bombacaceae category , advanced taxonomy integrate it into Malvaceae based on genetic grounds .
History
The Kapok Tree has a rich ethnical and economical story across tropic realm . Revered by autochthonic peoples in Central and South America , such as the Maya , it was considered a hallowed “ mankind tree ” connecting terra firma and sky , often leave standing when timber were make . In West Africa , it hold exchangeable spiritual signification . During the colonial era , kapok fiber from its seminal fluid pod became a world-wide commodity , used for stuffing mattresses , pillows , and life jacket , peaking in demand during the nineteenth and other twentieth centuries . Its lightweight wood and seeds were also utilized locally . Today , its bionomical role and cultural symbolization carry on to make it a focal species in tropic preservation and heritage site .
Identifying feature
Ceiba pentandra is a monolithic , fast - growing tree , often reaching 100–200 substructure tall with a tree trunk diam up to 10 feet , supported by spectacular buttress root . Its palmate leaves are colonial , with 5–9 glossy green leaflets , shedding seasonally in drier climate . The trunk and branches are often spiny when young , becoming smooth with age . Large , creamy - white to pinkish flowers ( 2–3 inch ) blossom nocturnally , attracting bats and moth for pollination . The tree diagram bring about oblong , woody seminal fluid pods ( 4–8 inches ) occupy with silky , cotton - like kapok fibers fence small black germ . Its towering , umbrella - shaped canopy and buttressed stem are iconic in tropic landscapes .
dispersion and Ecology
Native to Central and South America , West Africa , and parts of Southeast Asia , Ceiba pentandra thrives in tropic rainforests , savannas , and seasonally dry woodland from sea horizontal surface to 3,000 feet elevation . It is wide distributed across Mexico , the Amazon Basin , the Caribbean , and West African country like Ghana and Nigeria , with acquaint populations in India , Indonesia , and the Philippines . The tree diagram prefer well - drained , fecund soils but tolerates a range of conditions , include periodical drought . As a pioneer specie , it colonizes disturbed areas , providing shade and habitat for birds , squash racquet , and epiphytes . Its flower and seeds support pollinator and seed - dispersing animals , raise tropical biodiversity .
usage
The Kapok Tree has diverse economical , ethnical , and ecological uses . Its ceiba tree vulcanized fiber , lightweight and perky , is used for dressing pillow , mattress , and insulating material , though synthetic option have subjugate demand . The seed give way an edible fossil oil used in cooking and cosmetics , while the semen cake serves as fauna provender or plant food . The lightweight , soft wood is crafted into canoe , carvings , and plywood , though it is not lasting for backbreaking expression . In traditional medicine , the bark , leaves , and rootage treat ailments like febrility , wounds , and digestive issues . Ornamentally , it is implant for shade and aesthetic magnificence , while ecologically , it stabilise soils and supports rain forest ecosystem . Its ethnical significance endures in ritual and as a turning point tree .
USDA zone
Ceiba pentandra is hardy in USDA Zones 10–12 , thriving in tropic climates with lovesome temperatures and high humidity . It tolerates abbreviated magnetic dip to 28–32 ° F but is extremely sore to frost , specify its cultivation to frost - destitute region . zona 10 includes areas like southerly Florida , coastal Southern California , and Hawaii , while Zones 11–12 cover tropic region like section of Central America and Southeast Asia . The tree requires rich sunlight and wet , though it can withstand seasonal ironical periods once established . In cool zone , it may be grown in large greenhouses or as a container plant , but its monumental size makes prospicient - term container finish impractical .
