Ceiba pentandra

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Definition

Noun 1. A species of large tropical tree: Ceiba pentandra is the scientific name for a very large, fast-growing tropical tree. It is characterized by a massive, straight trunk that often has wide, buttress-like ridges at its base and distinctive, large seed pods. The tree is the primary source of the commercially important kapok fiber, a silky, cotton-like floss that surrounds its seeds.

Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • The Ceiba pentandra is considered a sacred tree in many cultures of the Americas.
    • The lightweight fiber harvested from the seed pods of the Ceiba pentandra is known as kapok.
    • A mature Ceiba pentandra can tower over the surrounding rainforest canopy.
Advanced Usage
  • In botanical and ecological contexts: The term is used precisely to identify this specific species within the genus , distinguishing it from related trees like the silk-cotton tree (). It is often discussed for its ecological role as a pioneer species and its importance in traditional medicine and culture.
    • The study focused on the pollination ecology of Ceiba pentandra in its native habitat.
Variants and Related Words
  • Kapok tree (n): The most common English name for , referring directly to its commercially harvested fiber.
  • Silk-cotton tree (n): A general name that can refer to and other trees in the genus that produce similar silky seed fibers.
  • Java cotton (n): Another name for kapok fiber, highlighting one of its regions of cultivation.
  • Kapok (n): The silky, buoyant fiber obtained from the seed pods of this tree, used historically for stuffing life preservers, mattresses, and pillows.
Synonyms
  • Kapok tree: The primary common-name synonym.
  • White silk-cotton tree: A descriptive synonym sometimes used.
Related Terms (Not Phrasal Verbs or Idioms)
  • Pioneer species: A term in ecology describing plants, like the , that are among the first to colonize disturbed or new environments.
  • Buttress roots: The large, wide, above-ground root structures that support the massive trunk of this and other tropical trees.
  • Deciduous: A characteristic of , meaning it sheds its leaves seasonally.
Noun
  1. massive tropical tree with deep ridges on its massive trunk and bearing large pods of seeds covered with silky floss; source of the silky kapok fiber

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