Text & photographs by Dr. Mahadeswara Swamy, Scientist
Kapok’ is a fast growing majestic tree with cantilevered branches and a buttressed trunk with mature seed pods bursting out cotton-like fluff. It is found wild as well as cultivated. The tree blooms at night and emits a strong odour which attracts nocturnal pollinators. It is an exotic tree native to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. In the rain forests of Amazon, it is the tallest tree and host to numerous aerial plants, insects, birds, frogs and other animals. The tree is naturalised and well-distributed in hotter parts of India (South and Western India, Andaman), Burma, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Java. The scientific name is ‘Ceiba pentandra’ belonging to the family Malvaceae (earlier placed in the family Bombacaceae). The generic name ‘Ceiba’ is an aboriginal name of Central America and specific name ‘pentandra’ refers to ‘five stamens’ in the flower.
