Tropical America and Africa – Mexico, Central America, northern South America and the Caribbean, and tropical west Africa.
Colors
Green turning brown
Shapes
Capsule, oblong-ellipsoid
Native to Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, Northern South America and tropical West Africa, Kapok tree is cultivated widely in Southeast Asia for its seed fiber. Usually it is fast growing attaining the height of 70 meters with trunk diameter 3 meters. The trunk is buttressed with large simple thorns. Crown is thin and pagoda shaped. Leaves are palmate having 5-9 leaflets each. It has several pods which contains seeds covered by fiber which is yellowish, light, water resistant, very buoyant, flammable and resilient. It is used to stuff pillows and mattresses. Seeds are roasted and grounded into powder. Buds, tender leaves and fruits are prepared like okra. Flowers are blanched and consumed with chilli sauce. Dried stamens are added to soups and curries. On the other hand, bark decoction is used as aphrodisiac, diuretic and to treat headache and diabetes. In general, Kapok is used for spasms, fever and bleeding.
Plant description
Ceiba pentandra, Kapok , is an erect, buttressed and deciduous tree which reaches to the height of 15 meters. Trunk is cylindric with grey bark which has scattered and large spines. Branches has distinct horizontal whorls. Leaves are palmately compound which consists of 5 to 8 leaflets, acuminate, glaucous and 6-18 cm long. The flowers are 5-merous, creamy white, numerous and about 3 cm long and is clustered on branchlets. The capsules are dehiscent, pendulous, oblong-ellipsoid measuring 7-15 cm in length. The fruit is green which turns brown when matured. It has brown seeds which is smooth, compressed-globose and embedded in fine and silky hairs.
Fruit
The fruit is a leathery, pendulous, ellipsoid capsule which is 10-30 cm long and 3-6 cm wide. The capsules split into 5 valves disclosing grey woolly hairs which embed 120-175 seeds.
Seed
Seeds are black or dark brown which is covered with wool.
