25/10/23, 9:00 Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.

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Malvaceae (/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30000208-2) Ceiba (/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30003311-2)

Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.

First published in Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 244 (1791)

This species is accepted

The native range of this species is Mexico to Tropical America. It is a tree and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. It is used as animal
food, a poison, a medicine and invertebrate food, has environmental uses and social uses and for fuel and food.

Taxonomy (/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1166232-2) Images (/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1166232-2/images) General information (/taxon

Descriptions

According to Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

Distribution
Biogeografic region: Amazonia, Andean, Guiana Shield, Caribbean, Orinoquia, Pacific. Elevation
range: 0–2000 m a.s.l. Cultivated in Colombia. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments:
Amazonas, Antioquia, Bolívar, Boyacá, Caldas, Caquetá, Cesar, Chocó, Córdoba, Cundinamarca,
Guaviare, Huila, Magdalena, Meta, Quindío, Risaralda, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca.

Conservation
IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): LC. National Red List of Colombia (2021): Potential LC.

Habit
Tree.

Ecology
Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, native
grassland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.

Vernacular
Balso, Bonga, Bongo, Ceiba, Ceiba bonga, Ceiba de lana, Ceibo, Chivecha, Cumaca, Jabillo, Lano,
Toborachi, Yuque

[UPFC]

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According to Flora of Somalia

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

(https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS)

Morphology > General > Habit

Tall tree with straight trunk and ± horizontal main branches; bark smooth, usually with scattered
conical spines to 1.5 cm long; young branches glabrous or pubescent

Morphology > Leaves

Leaves 5–9-foliolate; leaflets narrowly elliptic-obovate, entire, acuminate, 7–20 x 1.8–6.5 cm,
glabrous; petiole 5.5–25 cm long, at the apex expanded into an almost circular disk

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Flowers

Flowers often on leafless branches or present when the whole tree is leafless, in 1–15-flowered
axillary clusters

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Flowers > Calyx

Calyx 9–15 mm long, lobed, glabrous outside, pubescent inside

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Flowers > Corolla

Petals pink or white, oblong, 2–3.5 cm long

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Flowers > Androecium > Stamens > Filaments
Filament-tube 5–9 mm long; anthers coiled or reniform

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Flowers > Gynoecium > Ovary
Ovary glabrous or nearly so; style 2.5–3.3 cm long

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Fruits

Capsule ± woody, smooth, brown, oblong-ellipsoid, up to c. 26 x 11 cm

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Seeds

Seeds subglobose, c. 6 mm across.

Distribution
S1–3; native in America and probably parts of Africa and SE Asia.

Vernacular
Geed suuf (Somali); kapok.

[FSOM]

According to Flora of West Tropical Africa

Bombacaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology > General > Habit

A tree, up to 200 ft. high, in forest and planted by villages

Morphology > Trunk

Trunk with large buttresses

Morphology > Branches

Branches in different forms without prickles or with obtuse or acutely pointed stout prickles,
generally prickly in the young state

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Flowers

Flowers white, appearing either when the whole tree is bare or on leafless branches

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Fruits

Fruits in some forms bursting on the tree, in others often falling

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Seeds

Floss white or grey.

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[FWTA]

According to Flora Zambesiaca

Bombacaceae, H. Wild. Flora Zambesiaca 1:2. 1961

Morphology > General > Habit

Tree up to 18 m. tall (often much taller outside our area) with horizontally branched crown and
very straight trunk; bark pale grey, smooth, with scattered conical spines 1–1·5 cm. long, at least
when young.

Morphology > Leaves

Leaves 5–9-foliolate (usually 7, very rarely more than 9); petiole up to c. 15 cm. long, glabrous;
leaflet-lamina articulated to a ± suborbicular disk at the apex of the petiole, up to 16 × 6·5 cm.,
narrowly elliptic or oblanceolate-elliptic, acuminate at the apex, cuneate at the base, margin
undulate or rarely obscurely toothed near the apex, slightly paler below, glabrous on both sides,
with 7–10 pairs of nerves slightly raised above, scarcely raised below, looping within the margin;
petiolules up to 0·8 cm. long.

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Flowers

Flowers in axillary fascicles of 1–3; peduncle 2–3 cm. long, glabrous.

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Flowers > Calyx

Calyx c. 1·5 × 1·2 cm., campanulate, lobed i- of the way down with rounded lobes, glabrous
outside, pubescent within.

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Flowers > Corolla

Petals rose-coloured or white, c. 3·5 × 0·7 cm., oblong-spathulate, rounded at the apex,
tomentose outside, glabrous within.

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Flowers > Androecium > Stamens
Staminal tube c. 5 mm. long; phalanges of 2–3 filaments c. 2 cm. long.

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Flowers > Gynoecium > Pistil
Ovary glabrous or nearly so; style c. 3·3 cm. long.

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Fruits

Capsule c. 8–20 × 4–11 cm., oblong-ellipsoid, valves smooth, brown, the whole filled with a
copious whitish silky wool.

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Seeds

Seeds many, c. 6 mm. in diam., dark brown, subglobose.

[FZ]

According to Useful Plants of Boyacá Project

The Useful Plants of Boyacá project

Ecology
Alt. 0 - 2000 m.

Distribution
Native and cultivated in Colombia.

Conservation
Not Evaluated.

Morphology > General > Habit

Tree.

[UPB]

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According to Flora of Tropical East Africa

Bombacaceae, H. Beentje (East African Herbarium). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1989

Morphology > General > Habit

Tree to 35(-50) m., with very straight trunk; main branches at right-angles to the trunk; crown
layered in young trees; bole buttressed; bark smooth, in Flora area usually with scattered conical
spines 1-1.5 cm. long.

Morphology > Branches

Young branches glabrous or pubescent; older branches often spiny.

Morphology > Leaves

Leaves 5-9-foliolate; stipules quickly caducous, leaving a large scar; petiole 5.5-25 cm. long,
glabrous or sparsely pubescent in young leaves, pulvinate at the base, at the apex expanded into
an almost circular disk; leaflets narrowly elliptic or narrowly obovate, 7-20 cm. long, 1.8-6.5 cm.
wide, acuminate at the apex, cuneate at the base, undulate at the margin, or rarely obscurely
toothed near the apex in young leaves, glabrous; secondary veins in 14-20 pairs; petiolules 1-10
mm. long.

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Flowers

Flowers often on leafless branches, or sometimes present when the whole tree is leafless;
inflorescence axillary, fasciculate, 1-15-flowered; pedicels 1.8-4.4 cm. long, glabrous, with scars
of the caducous bracteoles.

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Flowers > Calyx

Calyx campanulate, 9-15 mm. long, 11-14 mm. wide, lobed for about one-fifth of its length, the
lobes rounded or subacute, glabrous outside and pubescent inside.

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Flowers > Corolla

Petals pink or white, oblong to spathulate, 2-3.5 cm. long, 0.7-1.5 cm. wide, apex rounded or
subacute, tomentose outside and glabrous inside.

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Flowers > Androecium > Stamens
Filament-tube 5-9 mm. long, the 5 bundles 15-35 mm. long; anthers coiled or reniform, 3-5 mm.
across.

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Flowers > Gynoecium > Pistil
Ovary semi-inferior, 3-5 mm. high, 3-6 mm. across, glabrous or nearly so; style 25-33 mm. long,
glabrous.

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Fruits

Capsule at least somewhat woody, loculicidal, smooth-valved, brown, oblong-ellipsoid, 8-26(-60
according to Fl. Cameroun) cm. long, 4-11 cm. across, with a persistent calyx.

Morphology > Reproductive morphology > Seeds

Seeds many, subglobose, ± 6 mm. across, dark brown, embedded in copious white or greyish
silky wool.

Figures
Fig. 4.

Habitat
Closed moist forest, also riverine or lacustrine; 840-1200 m.

Distribution
T1 U2 tropical America, Africa (see note) and SE. Asiaalso widely cultivated

[FTEA]

According to Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de

las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes
(http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/)

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Vernacular
bonga, bonga bruja, bongo, ceiba, ceiba blanca, ceiba bonga, ceiba bongo, ceiba bruja, ceiba
Cartagena, ceiba colorada, ceiba de agua, ceibaebruja, ceibo, ceibo macho, lano, lupuna

[UNAL]

According to Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia.
Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá.
http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co (http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co)

Distribution
Nativa y cultivada en Colombia; Alt. 0 - 2000 m.; Amazonia, Andes, Guayana y Serranía de La
Macarena, Islas Caribeñas, Llanura del Caribe, Orinoquia, Pacífico, Sierra Nevada de Santa
Marta, Valle del Cauca, Valle del Magdalena.

Morphology > General > Habit

Árbol

Conservation
No Evaluada

[CPLC]

According to IUCN Categories

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/61782438/61782442

(https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/61782438/61782442)

Conservation
LC - least concern

[IUCN]

Uses

According to Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

Use > Animal Food

Used as animal food.
Use > Environmental
Environmental uses.
Use > Fuel
Used for fuels.
Use > Gene Sources
Used as gene sources.
Use > Food
Used for food.
Use > Invertebrate Food
Used as invertebrate food.
Use > Materials

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Used as material.
Use > Medicines
Medical uses.
Use > Poisons
Poisons.
Use > Social
Social uses.

[UPFC]

According to Flora of Somalia

According to Useful Plants of Boyacá Project

Common
LCD UPB
Names

English
Kapok Tree
Spanish
Ceiba, bonga, ceiba bonga, ceiba bruja, bongo, chivecha, ceibo, cumaca, toborachi, balso, bonga, ceiba de lana, lano, yuque, jabillo.

Sources

Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

Colombian resources for Plants made Accessible

ColPlantA 2021. Published on the Internet at http://colplanta.org
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Flora Zambesiaca
Flora Zambesiaca
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

Flora of Somalia
Flora of Somalia
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

Flora of Tropical East Africa

Flora of Tropical East Africa
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

Flora of West Tropical Africa

Flora of West Tropical Africa
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

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Herbarium Catalogue Specimens
Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

IUCN Categories
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

Kew Backbone Distributions

The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and
https://powo.science.kew.org/
© Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Kew Living Collection Database

Descriptions Uses Common Names
Common Names from Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com/

Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and
https://powo.science.kew.org/
© Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Kew Science Photographs

Copyright applied to individual images

Neotropikey
Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the
Neotropics.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Universidad Nacional de Colombia

ColPlantA database
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

Useful Plants of Boyacá Project

ColPlantA database
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Wood Anatomy Microscope Slides

Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

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