A revision of this genus, in 2003, treats this species as distinct but part of the aggregate species Ceiba insignis[].

Common Name: Slik Floss Tree

General Information

Ceiba speciosa is a fast-growing deciduous tree with a dense, wide-spreading canopy, growing 15 - 30 metres tall. The bright green bole, which is covered in stout spines when young, usually branches from quite low down. It can be 80 - 120cm in diameter[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild mainly for its seed floss, which is used as a stuffing material. It is often grown as an ornamental, being valued especially for its spectacular flowering display[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru.

Habitat

Dry, semi-deciduous, broadleaved forests, being found in both dense primary formations and secondary forest[, ]. The best trees are found growing on the fertile soils of alluvial plains and valley bottoms[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Butterflies
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the subtropics and warm temperate zones[].
Prefers a rich, well-drained soil and a position in full sun[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[].
Newly planted young trees grow away quickly, easily reaching a height of 5 - 6 metres within 2 years[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The seed floss is used as a stuffing material in pillows, cushions etc[, , ]. A kapok-like material, it is of good quality[].
This plant yields a fibre of which textures are made which are so much like silk in their lustre, fineness, and pliability as to be scarcely distinguished from it[].

The heartwood is greyish and brown; it is not differentiated from the sapwood. The textured is coarse; the grain is straight; lustre is bright to very bright. The wood is light in weight, soft and has little durability, being susceptible to fungi and insect attacks. It can be used for making canoes, troughs, wooden bowls, clogs, boxes etc. It can also be used as a source of cellulose[, ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Sow the seed in a semi-shaded position in a nursery seedbed or individual containers, covering them with a thin layer of compost. Germination rates of 80% or more can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 5 - 8 days[]. Transplant seedlings from the seedbed into individual containers when they are 5 - 6cm tall. Seedlings grow away quickly and should be ready to plant out into their permanent positions within 4 months[].
Layers.

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