Thanks, Abhay ji. Some extracts from Wikipedia link (for pictures/ more details, pl. click on the link):http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceiba_pentandra
*Kapok* (*Ceiba pentandra*) is a tropical tree<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Tree> of the order <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Order_(biology)> *Malvales<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Malvales> * and the family <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Family_(biology)> *Malvaceae<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Malvaceae> * (previously separated in the family *Bombacaceae<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Bombacaceae> *), native to Mexico <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Mexico>, Central America<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Central_America> and the Caribbean <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Caribbean>, northern South America <http://mail.google.com/wiki/South_America>, and (as the variety *C. pentandra* var. *guineensis*) to tropical west Africa<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Africa>. The word is also used for the fibre <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Fibre> obtained from itsseed <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Seed> pods<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Pod>. The tree is also known as the Java cotton, Java kapok, or ceiba<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Ceiba>. It is a sacred symbol in Maya mythology<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Maya_mythology> . 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 thorns<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Spine_(botany)>. The leaves <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Leaf> 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 oflignin<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Lignin> and cellulose <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Cellulose>. The fibre is light, very buoyant <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Buoyancy>, resilient, highly flammable <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Flammability> and resistant to water <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Water>. The process of harvesting and separating the fibre is labour-intensive and manual. It is difficult to spin <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Spinning_(textiles)> but is used as an alternative to down <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Down_feathers> as filling in mattresses <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Mattress>, pillows<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Pillow> , upholstery <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Upholstery>, teddy bears<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Teddy_bear> , zafus <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Zafu> and for insulation<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Thermal_insulation>. It was previously much used in life jackets<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Personal_flotation_device> and similar devices. Man-made materials largely replaced the fibre, until recently. The seeds produce an oil <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Oil>used locally in soap <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Soap> and that can be used as fertilizer <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Fertilizer>. In Southeast Asian <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Southeast_Asia> countries kapok has larger seed pods and the fibre which is highly flammable is used as a fuel in fire pistons <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Fire_piston>, in Thailand <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Thailand> called taban fai ???????<http://www.thailex.info/THAILEX/THAILEXENG/LEXICON/t.htm#taban%20fai%20(???????)> . The commercial tree is most heavily cultivated in Asia<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Asia>, notably in Java <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Java_(island)> (hence its nicknames), Philippines <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Philippines>, and Malaysia <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Malaysia>, but also in South America. This tree is the official national tree of Puerto Rico<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Puerto_Rico> and Guatemala <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Guatemala>. *Ceiba pentandra* bark decoction <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Decoction> has been used as a diuretic <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Diuretic>, aphrodisiac<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Aphrodisiac>, and to treat headache, as well as type II diabetes<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Type_II_diabetes> . *Ceiba pentandra* is used as an additive to some versions of the hallucinogenic drink Ayahuasca <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Ayahuasca>.[1]<http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=HYFyTAqnPr8.en_GB.&am=b7EopeS3cCFPDX3i1_Q2SgddRKi7nPs#cite_note-0> 2009/4/25 Abhay Tiwari <[email protected]> > Took these pictures two weeks back in goregaon, Mumbai. > > Kapok or White Silk Cotton or Safed Semal. > > Scientific name: Ceiba Pentandra. > > > > -- With regards, J.M.Garg "We often ignore the beauty around us" Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. 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