What is the ceiba tree in Puerto Rico?
The official tree of Puerto Rico is the ceiba, also called silk-cotton tree or kapok tree. Often the tallest tree in the forest, the ceiba attains heights of 150 feet and has a ridged columnar trunk and a massive umbrella-shaped canopy. Its far-reaching limbs often host aerial plants, such as moss and bromeliads.
What is the English name of Ceiba pentandra?
Silk cotton tree
Ceiba Pentandra ; Family: Bombacaceae; Common names: English: Silk cotton tree, kaboka tree; Igbo: Akpu-ogwu; Hausa: Rimi; Yoruba: Ogun- gun, Araba.
Where does Ceiba pentandra grow?
This tree is native to tropical America from Mexico south through Central America and the northern parts of South America to the Amazon basin.
How do you grow Ceiba pentandra?
Grow Kapok Trees in full sun and well-draining soil in a position sheltered from strong winds. During winter or dry season, it sheds its leaves and requires less water than during the vegetative season. After the dry season, the creamy-white to pinkish coloured flowers appear before leaf-growth.
Why is the Ceiba tree sacred?
Mayans hold the Ceiba tree to be sacred. It is believed that the souls of the dead ascend to the top of the trees to go to heaven. It was also a connection between all three worlds, the underworld, earth and heaven. Today you can find Ceiba trees planted near cemeteries and at the center of religious ceremonies.
What is the strongest tree in Puerto Rico?
Ausubo is one of the strongest and most attractive commercial woods in Puerto Rico. It is widely used in the tropics for railway sleepers, bridging, heavy construction, furniture, turnery, flooring, violin bows, and billiard cues.
Are ceiba trees poisonous?
It is native to southeastern Asia. The fibers are excellent for stuffing mattresses and pillows. However, the seeds are poisonous if ingested, and there are conical spines on the trunk.
Why is the ceiba tree sacred?
Are Ceiba trees poisonous?
How long does it take to grow a silk cotton tree?
Known to be a super fast-growing tree, it can put on 40 inches or more in a growing season for the first 10 years, then slows down considerably to build more girth and bulk in subsequent years. The fresh white wood is extremely tender but slowly hardens with the trunk turning a silvery grey.
Where can I find a Ceiba Tree?
Ceiba is a genus of trees in the family Malvaceae, native to tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas (from Mexico and the Caribbean to N Argentina) and tropical West Africa.
How old is the Ceiba Tree?
400 years old
This particular tree is said to be over 400 years old … think of all the hurricanes it has withstood, and all the generations of people it has outlived! You look so small when standing inside the folds of the roots.
What is the oldest tree in Puerto Rico?
The ceiba
“But that means it’s healthy enough to go for more blooming.” The ceiba is the national tree of Puerto Rico. There is at least one other park venerating a roughly 500-year-old specimen in Ponce, a city on the central southern coast of Puerto Rico’s main island.
How long do ceiba trees live?
The most important Ceiba in Guatemala is known as La Ceiba de Palín Escuintla which is over 400 years old. In Caracas, Venezuela there is a 100-year-old ceiba tree in front of the San Francisco Church known as La Ceiba de San Francisco and is an important element in the history of the city.
How long do Ceiba trees live?
How long do silk cotton trees live?
Silk Cotton trees can survive for centuries and, as Olive Senior points out, often harbour “on its branches a great variety of wild life – orchids, wild pines, parasites, birds’ nests, creepers – which contribute to its almost supernatural appearance.” (134) The Silk Cotton tree also has a number of practical …
Is the Ceiba tree poisonous?
Do Ceiba trees lose their leaves?
Ceiba trees may flower as little as once every 5 years, especially in wetter forests. Flowering is more frequent on forest edges or in drier sites. The Page 2 trees lose their leaves in the dry season, a conditioned termed “drought-deciduousness”.
Is the ceiba tree poisonous?
How long does it take for Ceiba to grow?
A fast-growing plant, especially when young[ 404 ]. The plant can commence flowering when around 8 – 10 years old from seed[ 404 ].
Does the ceiba tree produce fruit?
Ceiba fruits are large ellipsoid capsules up to 20 cm long, with 5 woody valves that split open to reveal abundant fluff, or kapok, in which the many small black-brown seeds are embedded. The kapok fibers are not attached to the seeds.