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Kapok Tree

Physical Characteristics
 

  • Reaches heights of 200 feet

  • Wide buttresses

  • Large leaves

    • 5-8 leaflets

  • Drops all of its leaves once a year

  • Large bell shaped flowers

    • 5-8 white to pink petals

    • One or two flowers open up each night

  • Produces 500-4000 fruits each fruit season

  • Seedpods are woody

  • Fruit is thick

Habitat
 

  • Found in tropical rainforests

  • Also found in the moist areas of drier forests

  • ​Places found in

    • West Africa

    • Central and South America

Other Facts
 

  • Known as Ceiba Pentandra in Latin

  • Kapok Tree fibers used to be used as insulation and stuffing for furniture (some places still use it for that)

 

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