Ceiba pentandra

Kapok Tree, Silk-cotton Tree, Java Cotton

Message of the Flower

Material Enterprises

The Mother’s Comment

Many projects, many attempts, many constructions.

Colour

Cream white

Family

Malvaceae

Flower Size

Medium-sized

Flower Texture

Soft, silky

Number of Petals

Five

Floral Symmetry

Radially symmetrical

Fragrance of Flower

Mildly fragrant, often described as sweet or musky

Leaf Texture

Leathery, smooth on upper surface, slightly hairy on lower surface

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate, palmate with 5 to 9 leaflets

Leaf Color

Green

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Very large tree with a straight buttressed trunk

Life Cycle

Perennial deciduous

Blooming Period

Winter through spring

Climate

Subtropical and tropical

Water Requirements

Moderate to high; can tolerate some drought once established

Soil Type

Well-drained, deep sandy loams; tolerant of a variety of soils

Temperature Ranges

Can be killed by temperatures of -1C or lower

Sun or Shade

Full sun to partial shade

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Not specifically mentioned

Pollinators

Primarily bats, also bees

Habitat

Tropical America, naturalized in Africa, cultivated in Asian rainforests

Role in the Ecosystem

Habitat and food provider, used in reforestation

Quotations

Not specified

Ornamental

Decorative tree in large spaces

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Wood and fiber in traditional/commercial applications

Endangered Status

Not listed as endangered

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