The Ceiba tree (Ceiba pentandra and also known as the kapok or silk-cotton tree) is a tropical tree native to North and South America and Africa. In Central America, the ceiba had great symbolic importance to the ancient Maya, and its name in the Mayan language is Yax Che (“Green Tree” or “First Tree”).
Tree hug is important. Majestic Ceiba Tree (ceiba pentandra)
The ceiba has a thick, buttressed trunk with a high canopy that can grow up to 70 meters (230 feet) in height. Three versions of the tree are found on our planet: that grown in tropical rainforests is a massive tree with spiny thorns protruding from its trunk. A second form grows in West African savannas, and it is a smaller tree with a smooth trunk. The third form is deliberately cultivated, with low branches and a smooth trunk. Its fruits are harvested for their kapok fibers, used to stuff mattresses, pillows and life preservers: it is the tree that envelops some of the buildings of Cambodia's Angkor Wat.
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22 September 2023
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