The Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba speciosa or Chorisia speciosa ) is a beautiful tree that seems to grab attention year round. At one time this tree had it's own Genus (Chorisia) hence the secondary name that it is often still sold under today, but has since been reclassified within that original genus. The tree is native to tropical and subtropical areas of South America such as Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and southern Brazil. It is a member of the Bombacaceae family, the same family as the Baobab, Kapok and Ceiba Chodatii. It is often confused with and referred to by the same common names as the similar Ceiba chodatii.
Image Citation: John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Silk floss trees grow in quick spurts when there is abundant amounts of water available, in moist growing conditions the tree can reaches heights of 82 feet. Even with the potential for large growth the Silk floss tree is most commonly used for ornamental purposes, it is also used as a street tree in subtropical areas such as South Africa, Australia, Northern New Zealand and the Southern United States. Recommended for hardiness zones 12-24, they are best suited for warm often dryer climates similar to Southern California. It is resistant to drought and can also tolerate moderate cold.
Image Citation: John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
When young the bark of the tree is quite green, this is due to the high chlorophyll content. The high chlorophyll content allows the tree to continue the process of photosynthesis when the leaves are absent. As the tree ages the bark darkens to a more gray color with various sized thorns covering the majority of the trunk area. The trunk of the tree is shaped much like a bottle, with the lower 1/3 of the tree have a bulging appearance. The branches generally grow in a horizontal fashion and are also covered with prickly thorns.
Image Citation: Mauro Halpern (minha propria foto) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons - (Roadside Brasil)
The green palmate leaves are made up of five to seven elongated leaflets. The flowers are creamy white in the center and a bold/bright pink on the remaining portions of their five petals. They measure 4 to 6 inches in diameter and their shape is often compared to that of a hibiscus flower. The nectar attracts various insects including monarch butterflies, which aid in the pollination process. The flowers are in bloom between February and May (in the native regions of the Southern Hemisphere), but can also bloom at other times of the year depending on the location of the planting. The flowers of the often compared and related Ceiba chodatii are similar appearance, but their coloring is creamy white in the centers and yellow on the remaining portions of the petals. The fruits appears in lignous ovoid pods, approximately 8 in long. Each fruit/pod contains bean-sized black seeds surrounded by a mass of fibrous, fluffy matter often compared to cotton or spun silk. It is possible to extract small amounts of vegetable oils (edible) from the seeds and the fibrous material can be used as a light stuffing or insulation material.
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