In the tropics you can find an interesting plant called a cotton tree. It looks very unusual, which attracts the attention of both local residents and tourists. Near this giant you will not see a man with an ax, no forest vandal will scratch his bark: "Vasya was here." What is the secret, and why so many myths go around an ordinary plant and will accept? This will be discussed in our article.
Scientific classification
In Latin, the cotton tree is called Ceiba pentandra. This tropical plant of the order of Malvotsvetsny belongs to the family of Malvaceae. It represents a large genus of Ceiba woody plants , in which 17 species of trees are combined. Initially, the Ceiba clan was included in the Bombax family.
Many sources use synonymous names - kapok (fiber name), five-stamen ceiba, samuma.
Where grows
The birthplace of the plant is West Africa. Under natural conditions, the tree is found in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The tree can be seen in the northern regions of South America.
Appearance
The cotton tree (ceiba) is listed as the tallest plant on the planet. Its height can reach 70 m. The trunk of the plant is very wide, the roots have ribbed stiffness, they are called plank-shaped. In fact, the roots form special vertical outgrowths (buttresses) that are adjacent to the trunk. Their height can significantly exceed human growth and reach 6-7 meters. Scientists believe that the board-shaped roots provide the plant with the necessary stability, since the cotton tree has a very powerful and heavy crown. Without additional supports, an adult tree could not stand under strong winds. Sabe trunks are sometimes called telegraphic, as they are tall and straight.
Young trees have a smooth green bark, but with age everything changes. You ask, what is covered with cotton bark? At first, the bark changes color from green to grayish. Then, powerful and very sharp conical spikes appear on it. The appearance of the spikes is very awesome, therefore, they serve as an excellent defense against any enemies. Animals never damage the bark of a cotton tree. Tourists, too, do not risk breaking and spoiling majestic plants. They do not try to climb on them or scratch the inscriptions on the trunks. But, having seen an adult cotton tree in the forest, photos will be taken without fail.
Ceiba leaves are palm-complex. Outwardly, they are somewhat reminiscent of palm leaves, each leaf consists of 5-9 leaves (maximum 15), the length of which is about 20 cm. Leaflets are whole-edge.
During flowering, the tree is covered with large white bisexual flowers, from which five-celled fruit-boxes are tied. On an adult tree, several hundred large fruits can form (the size of the box is almost 15 cm). The five-leaf box has an elongated shape. Outside, it is smooth, and inside it is covered with numerous silky hairs that envelop the seeds. Inside the boxes are seeds of almost spherical shape. The color of the seeds is from dark brown to black. When the fruits ripen, the capsules crack and a white, yellow, or light brown kapok (fiber) falls out of them. This fiber is of particular value.
How is fiber used?
Ceiba fiber contains cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and other substances. It is light (8 times lighter than cotton), not wettable and not falling off. This material is resilient and elastic, with high buoyancy and water repellent ability. In addition, it has low thermal conductivity and good sound absorption. True, there is an obvious drawback - high combustibility, but we learned how to deal with it.
Long-lasting kapok is not susceptible to pest colonization and is not food for fungi. This is a wonderful natural material for stuffing upholstered furniture, hypoallergenic mattresses and pillows. Pontoons, lifebuoys, and vests are made from it. Sailors often call ceibu a life-saver. The material is used as a filler for warm clothing of polar expeditions. It is difficult to spin from a cup because its surface is very smooth, but modern technologies have been developed that simplify this task.
Cotton wood fiber insulation is used to insulate the walls of refrigerators and soundproof office, cultural and residential premises.
After the colonization of tropical Africa, foresters carried out a massive campaign to plant ceiba, providing fiber extraction. Until 1960, kapok was a valuable export product, but then its value decreased slightly.
How are seeds used?
Oil is obtained from the seeds of cotton tree, which can be used as a lubricant, as an additive in soap making and in cooking. Oil is used in lamps to illuminate huts. For medical purposes, this product is suitable for the treatment of rheumatism and wound healing. The main exporter of cottonseed oil is Indonesia.
How to use bark, roots, flowers and leaves
The cotton tree described here is widely used in African folk medicine:
- a medicine is prepared from the roots for leprosy, diarrhea, dysentery, and hypertension;
- from bark - a remedy for toothache, asthma, rickets, hernia, diarrhea, gonorrhea, fever and edema;
- soothing decoctions, preparations for scabies, conjunctivitis and lumbago (lumbar lumbago) are prepared from the leaves;
- pulp from crushed leaves is applied to wounds with cuts and abscesses;
- leaf juice is used for skin diseases;
- dried and powdered peel of the fruit is used as a remedy for intestinal parasites.
In addition to medical use, foliage and shoots are used as food for small pets. Young leaves and fruits are added to food.
Oil is extracted from the seeds, although this process is long and laborious. The local population uses it to bring beauty and home lighting.
What else can be said about the cotton tree? The properties of the materials obtained from this plant can be considered controversial, but they are enough by the local population. And this plant is a wonderful honey plant. During abundant flowering, it exudes a strong aroma that attracts many bees.
Mayan Sacred Tree
Maya Indians necessarily planted a cotton tree in the center of their settlement. They believed that this tree was bestowed upon humans by gods. Moreover, the Maya Indians believed that the world stands on four huge cotton trees. Therefore, they never chopped these plants, and if they plucked or gathered leaves of ceiba in the forest, they always left a small gift in return.
The divine origin of the tree was confirmed by the fact that it never suffered from hurricanes, and no one saw lightning fall into the cotton tree. The Indians believed that the gods protect the pet from all troubles, and punish anyone who tries to harm the plant.
But for the native people of Haiti, ceiba was a symbol of evil. They believed that evil spirits dwell in its trunk and never go to bed under his crown. One of the worst punishments for Haitian slaves was tying a cotton giant to the prickly trunk.