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Kapok Tree (Ceiba pentandra)
Kapok Tree (Ceiba pentandra)

Kapok (Ceiba pentandra) is a tropical tree of the order Malvales and the family Malvaceae (previously separated in the family Bombacaceae), native to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, northern South America, and (as the variety C. pentandra var. guineensis) to tropical west Africa. The word is also used for the fibre obtained from its seed pods. The tree is also known as the Java cotton, Java kapok, or ceiba. It is a sacred symbol in Maya mythology.

The tree grows to 60-70 m (200-230 ft) tall and has a very substantial trunk up to 3 m (10 ft) in diameter with buttresses. The trunk and many of the larger branches are densely crowded with very large, robust simple thorns. The leaves are compound of 5 to 9 leaflets, each up to 20 cm (8 in) and palm like. Adult trees produce several hundred 15 cm (6 in) seed pods. The pods contain seeds surrounded by a fluffy, yellowish fiber that is a mix of lignin and cellulose.

Kapok fiber is light, very buoyant, resilient, highly flammable and resistant to water. The process of harvesting and separating the fibre is labour-intensive and manual. It is difficult to spin but is used as an alternative to down as filling in mattresses, pillows, upholstery, teddy bears, zafus and for insulation. It was previously much used in life jackets and similar devices. Man-made materials largely replaced the fibre, until recently. The seeds produce an oil used locally in soap and that can be used as fertilizer.

In Southeast Asian countries kapok has larger seed pods and the fibre which is highly flammable is used as a fuel in fire pistons, in Thailand called taban fai ตะบันไฟ.

The commercial tree is most heavily cultivated in the rainforests of Asia, notably in Java (hence its nicknames), Philippines, and Malaysia, but also in South America.

This tree is the official national tree of Puerto Rico and Guatemala.

Ceiba pentandra bark decoction has been used as a diuretic, aphrodisiac, and to treat headache, as well as type II diabetes.

Ceiba pentandra is used as an additive to some versions of the hallucinogenic drink Ayahuasca.

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Taken on: August 29, 2009
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Sets appears in:   • Singapore Botanical Gardens September 2009   
Camera: Nikon D70s, f/2.8, 1/200 sec, 90mm (=135mm) (more info) (hide info)
Camera: Nikon D70s
Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure Time: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Focal Length: 90mm (35mm equivalent: 135mm)
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash
Exposure Program: Not Defined
Exposure Mode: Auto
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
White Balance: Auto
Color Space: sRGB
Software: Ver.1.00
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Kapok Tree (Ceiba pentandra)

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