Ceiba

Ceiba is a genus of large tropical trees in the Malvaceae family, known for their buttressed trunks and showy flowers. It includes several species, notably Ceiba pentandra (kapok tree) and Ceiba speciosa (silk floss tree). Ceiba pentandra is valued for the silky kapok fibers that fill and insulate; the genus was previously placed in Bombacaceae, but molecular studies placed it in Malvaceae.

Distribution and habitat: Native to tropical Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas, Ceiba species are now widely pantropical due to cultivation and naturalization. They inhabit rainforests, woodlands, and savannas and can reach substantial heights; Ceiba pentandra has been recorded at around 60 meters in some localities.

Description and ecology: Trees are usually deciduous or semi-evergreen with buttressed trunks; young trees may bear spines. Leaves are palmately compound; flowers are large, white to pink, often scented at night and pollinated by bats and moths. Fruits are woody capsules containing long, silky kapok fibers that enclose seeds; fibers are buoyant and hydrophobic and have been used for stuffing, insulation, and buoyancy applications.

Uses and cultural significance: Kapok fibers were widely used to fill mattresses and life jackets; wood is light and easy to work but not highly durable. In many cultures, ceiba trees hold symbolic importance; in Mesoamerican traditions, the ceiba is regarded as sacred and linked to cosmology. Conservation status varies by species and region, reflecting differences in habitat loss and distribution.