Pochote

Pochote is a common name for several species of trees in the genus Ceiba, particularly Ceiba pentandra, which is also known as the kapok tree. These trees are native to tropical regions of the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Pochote trees are known for their large size, often reaching impressive heights, and their distinctive buttress roots. The trunk is frequently spiny when young, though these spines tend to disappear as the tree matures.

The wood from pochote trees is lightweight and soft, making it suitable for various uses such as carving, making canoes, and as a source of pulp for paper. The seed pods of the pochote tree contain a fluffy, cotton-like fiber known as kapok. This fiber is buoyant, water-repellent, and hypoallergenic, and has historically been used for stuffing mattresses, pillows, upholstery, and life preservers. The seeds themselves can be pressed to extract oil, which has some industrial applications. Pochote trees also play an important role in their ecosystems, providing habitat and food for various wildlife.