Envoy at 06:13, 25 October 2007

2007-10-25T06:13:35Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Kapok
| image = Kapok_tree_Honolulu.jpg
| image_width = 220px
| image_caption = Kapok planted in [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]]
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malvales]]
| familia = [[Malvaceae]] ([[Bombacaceae]])
| genus = ''[[Ceiba]]''
| species = '''''C. pentandra'''''
| binomial = ''Ceiba pentandra''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]) [[Joseph Gaertner|Gaertn.]]
}}

'''Kapok''' ('''''Ceiba pentandra''''') is a tropical [[tree]] of the [[order (biology)|order]] ''[[Malvales]]'' and the [[family (biology)|family]] ''[[Malvaceae]]'' (previously separated in the family ''[[Bombacaceae]]''), native to [[Mexico]], [[Central America]] and the [[Caribbean]], northern [[South America]], and (as the variety ''C. pentandra'' var. ''guineensis'') to tropical west [[Africa]]. The word is also used for the [[fibre]] obtained from its [[seed]] [[pod]]s. The tree is also known as the Java cotton, Java kapok, or [[ceiba]]. It is a sacred symbol in [[Maya mythology]].

[[Image:Kapok tree-pod.jpg|left|thumb|Kapok pod showing kapok fibres inside]]
The tree grows to 60-70 m (200-230 ft) tall and has a very substantial trunk up to 3 m (10 ft) in diameter with buttresses. The trunk and many of the larger branches are densely crowded with very large, robust simple [[spine (botany)|thorns]]. The [[leaf|leaves]] are compound of 5 to 9 leaflets, each up to 20 cm (8 in) and palm like. Adult trees produce several hundred 15 cm (6 in) seed pods. The pods contain seeds surrounded by a fluffy, yellowish fiber that is a mix of [[lignin]] and [[cellulose]].

==Uses==
The fibre is light, very [[buoyancy|buoyant]], resilient, highly [[flammability|flammable]] and resistant to [[water]]. The process of harvesting and separating the fibre is labour-intensive and manual. It cannot be [[spinning (textiles)|spun]] but is used as an alternative to [[down feathers|down]] as filling in [[mattress]]es, [[pillow]]s, [[upholstery]], [[teddy bear]]s, [[zafu]]s and for [[thermal insulation|insulation]]. It was previously much used in [[personal flotation device|life jackets]] and similar devices. The fibre has been largely replaced by man-made materials. The seeds produce an [[oil]] used locally in [[soap]] and that can be used as [[fertilizer]].

In [[Southeast Asia]]n countries kapok has larger seed pods and the fibre which is highly flammable is used as a fuel in fire pistons, in [[Thailand]] called taban fai [http://www.thailex.info/THAILEX/THAILEXENG/LEXICON/t.htm#taban%20fai%20(ตะบันไฟ) ตะบันไฟ].

The commercial tree is most heavily cultivated in [[Asia]], notably in [[Java (island)|Java]] (hence its nicknames), [[Malaysia]], and [[Indonesia]], but also in the [[Philippines]] and South America.

A similar fibre is found in the Indian ''[[Bombax|Bombax ceiba]]'' (also known as ''Bombax malabaricum'' or "silk-cotton tree"). It is termed Indian kapok and is darker in colour and less buoyant than the true variety.

This tree is the official national tree of [[Puerto Rico]].

===Ethnomedical uses===
''Ceiba pentandra'' bark [[decoction]] has been used as a [[diuretic]], [[aphrodisiac]], and to treat headache, as well as [[type II diabetes]].

''Ceiba pentandra'' is used as an additive to some versions of the hallucinogenic drink [[Ayahuasca]].<ref>[http://www.serendipity.li/dmt/hoasca.html#tbl1 Ayahuasca Analogues]</ref>

==References==
{{Commons|Ceiba pentandra}}
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?9703 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Ceiba pentandra'']
*[http://www.thailex.info/THAILEX/THAILEXENG/LEXICON/kapok.htm The larger seed pods of SEA kapok and its use as a fuel in fire pistons]

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Kapok seeds I IMG 8004.jpg|Kapok seeds
Image:Kapok leaves I IMG 5949.jpg|Kapok leaves
Image:Kapok Fruit I IMG 3839.jpg|Kapok Fruit
Image:Kapok flowers I IMG 2377.jpg|Kapok flowers
Image:Kapok bark I IMG 2556.jpg|Kapok bark
Image:Ceiba_pentandra_MS4104.JPG|Roots
Image:Ceiba_pentandra_cortex_hg.jpg|Cortex
Image:Ceiba_pentandra_fruit_out_hg.jpg|Fruit
</gallery>

[[Category:Ayahuasca]]
[[Category:Malvaceae]]
[[Category:Trees of Brazil]]
[[Category:Trees of Guyana]]
[[Category:Trees of the Guianas]]
[[Category:Trees of Mexico]]
[[Category:Trees of Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Trees of Suriname]]
[[Category:Trees of Trinidad and Tobago]]
[[Category:Trees of Central America]]
[[Category:Trees of the Caribbean]]

Kapok - Revision history

Envoy at 06:13, 25 October 2007