The Ceiba Pentandra is a tropical, fast growing (2 metres per year) and deciduous tree, originating in Central America. There are two varieties, the one from Central America and the other from West Africa. It reaches an average height of 10 - 25 metres but can grow as tall as 70 metres. The lifespan of this tree is about 65 years.
From the age of 4, the tree starts producing hundreds of seed pods (15-18 centimetre in length) which breaks open when the weather gets warmer, releasing tiny black seeds surrounded by cotton-like fluff, consisting of a lignin and cellulose mix. Birds love to use this fibre to line their nests. One tree can yield up to 20 kilograms of fibre per year.
The Knob-thorn tree flowers in spring. The trunk is bright green with grey veins, usually covered with greyish thorns. It provides an array of beautiful pink flowers during Spring. The leaves are compound, consisting of 5 – 8 leaflets. It should not be planted close to buildings or swimming pools because of the trees vigorous rooting system.
The lawn under this tree was covered in dried pod peels and fluffy seed balls.
The Know thorn is a tropical tree, drought and cold resistant. It thrives in temperatures of 12 – 35 degrees Celsius, needs full sun and fertile soil with a pH of 5 - 6.5.
Kapok fibre is ecological, used as a filling for pillows, soft toys and upholstery because it is light, repels moisture, and dust mites cannot live in it. The seeds are pressed for oil which is used in paint, for cooking and as a lubricant.
On this photo you can see the grey veins and cone-shaped sharp thorns."
All photos were taken with a Samsung Galaxy S7.