Japanese name: トックリキワタ Scientific name:Ceiba speciosa
[Overview]
A deciduous tree up to 25 m tall.
In young trees the bark is green, and the trunk bears thick, sharp, conical thorns.
In mature trees the bark becomes grayish brown, the thorns fall off, and the trunk swells into a bottle shape.
The branches often spread horizontally.
The leaves are alternate palmate compound leaves consisting of 5–7 leaflets, with fine teeth on the leaflet margins.
The flowers bloom after the leaves have fallen (around February–May in the native range); they are deep pink, 5-petaled, 10–15 cm across, with a white to yellowish white center.
The fruit is oval, about 20 cm long, and contains seeds wrapped in cotton.
[Uses]
The cotton surrounding the seeds is used as stuffing for cushions and similar items.
The wood is used for canoes and wood pulp.
The bark is used as a material for rope.
Oil can be extracted from the seeds.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, cuttings, grafting, or layering.
Outdoor cultivation is possible in the Ryukyu Islands.
It prefers fertile, sunny, well-drained soil.
Avoid places exposed to strong wind.
It tolerates drought well.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
