Ceiba pentandra

Ceiba pentandra
Kapok plantit in Honolulu, Hawai'i
Scientific classification
Kinrick:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Faimily:	Malvaceae
Genus:	Ceiba
Species:	C. pentandra
Binomial name
Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.

Ceiba pentandra is a tropical tree o the order Malvales an the faimily Malvaceae (previously separated in the faimily Bombacaceae), native tae Mexico, Central Americae an the Caribbean, northren Sooth Americae, an (as the variety C. pentandra var. guineensis) tae tropical wast Africae. Kapok is the maist uised common name for the tree an mey refer tae the cotton obtained frae its seed pods an aw. The tree is forby kent as the Java cotton, Java kapok, Silk cotton or ceiba.

Characteristics

The tree graws tae 60–70 m (200–230 ft) taw an haes a verra substantial trunk up tae 3 m (10 ft) in diameter wi buttrages. The trunk an mony o the muckler branches are eften (but nae ayeweys) crowdit wi verra muckle, robust semple thorns. The leaves are compoond o 5 tae 9 leaflets, ilka up tae 20 cm (8 in) an palm lik. Adult trees produce several hunder 15 cm (6 in) seed pods. The pods contain seeds surroondit bi a fluffy, yellaeish feebre that is a mix o lignin an cellulose.

Uises

Kapok seeds within fibres in Kolkata, Wast Bengal, Indie.

The feebre is licht, verra buoyant, resilient, resistant tae watter but it is very flammable. The process o harvestin an separatin the feebre is labour-intensive an manual. It is difficult tae spin but is uised as an alternative tae doun as fillin in mattresses, pillows, upholstery, zafus, an stuffed toys sic as teddy bears, an for insulation. It wis previously much uised in life jackets an seemilar devices till synthetic materials lairgely replaced the feebre. The seeds produce an ile uised locally in saip an that can be uised as fertiliser.

Native tribes alang the Amazon River hairst the kapok feebre tae wrap aroond thair blawgun dairts. The feebres creat a seal that allous the pressur tae force the dairt throu the tube.

The commercial tree is maist hivily cultivatit in the rainforests o Asie, notably in Java (hence its nicknames), Philippines, Malaysie, Hainan Island in Cheenae as well as in Sooth Americae. The flouers are an important soorce o nectar an pollen for honeybees.

Ethnomedical uises

Ceiba pentandra bark decoction haes been uised as a diuretic, aphrodisiac, an tae treat headache, as weel as type II diabetes. It is uised as an additive tae some versions o the hallucinogenic drink Ayahuasca.

Kapok seed ile

A pressed seed ile can be derived frae the seeds o the kapok tree. The ile haes a yellae colour an a pleasant, mild odour an taste. It haes seemilar characteristics tae cottonseed ile. It becomes rancid quickly whan exponed tae air. Kapok ile is produced in Indie, Indonesie an Malaysie. It haes an iodine value o 85-100, that maks it a nondryin ile. This means that it disnae dry oot signeeficantly when exponed tae the air. Kapok ile haes some potential as a biofuel an in paint preparation.

Seembolism

C. pentandra is the naitional emblem o Guatemala, Puerto Rico, an Equatorial Guinea. It appears on the latter's coat o airms an banner.

Gallery

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  Kapok leaves in Kolkata, Wast Bengal, Indie
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  Kapok Fruit in Kolkata, Wast Bengal, Indie
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  Kapok bairk in Kolkata, Wast Bengal, Indie
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  Buttrage ruits
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  Fruit
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  Maist muckle kent Kapok specimen, Bangalore, Indie
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  In Nassau, Bahamas photographed bi William Jackson
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  Nicht view o the Kapok Tree frae Palm Beach, Florida