The previous post introduced the fuchsia or pale pink Floss Silk Tree (Ceiba speciosa). Now I want to share some photos from 2018 to 2021 and information of the White Floss Silk Tree (Ceiba insignis). Ceiba insignis differs from the more common Ceiba speciosa in having creamy-white flowers and a stouter appearance due to its shorter stature and more swollen trunk. Flowers are followed by green, pear-shaped fruits. As the fruits dry, they split open, releasing seeds cradled in dense masses of white, silky hairs. The silky floss has many uses. It is native to western South America.
之前的帖文介紹紫紅色或淡粉紅色的美人樹，現在來分享一些白花異木棉的照片(2018-2021)及資料。白花異木棉與更常見的美人樹的不同之處在於它有乳白色的花朵和更結實的外觀，因為它的身材更矮，樹幹更腫脹。花之後是綠色的梨形果實。隨著果實乾燥，它們裂開，釋放出密集的白色絲狀毛髮中的種子。其柔滑的絨毛有許多用途。它原產於南美洲西部。
Notes 筆記
- White Floss Silk Tree (Ceiba insignis or Chorisia insignis) originated in the western regions of South America, ranging from Colombia to Argentina.
- It grows to around thirty feet tall and wide typically with a fat, thorny trunk and spreading branches.
- The flowers of white floss-silk tree are five inches wide and creamy white to pale yellow, which may be suffused or streaked with pink, appearing just after the tree sheds its foliage in fall and winter. In its native range, flowers open in the evening and are pollinated by nocturnal pollinators.
- Flowers are followed by smooth, green, pear-shaped fruits, known as capsules. As the fruits dry, they split open, releasing seeds cradled in dense masses of white, silky hairs, which give the plant its name.
- When young, the trunk and branches are covered with green bark that is capable of photosynthesis, but becomes gray and fissured with age. The bark is covered with sharp, conical projections, often referred to as prickles.
- White Floss Silk Tree can be used as for a shade tree or as an interesting specimen or ornamental tree.
- Its silky floss has been used to stuff pillows, cushions, mattresses, bedspreads, and other household items. It brings the added benefit of having properties that repel fleas, bedbugs, and moths. It is also more resistant to parasites than wool because it does not contain protein-based substances. The floss is lighter than cotton and is buoyant in water, a characteristic that makes it useful for life preservers, vests, and jackets. It is also used to insulate clothing, such as uniforms and hats, or appliances, such as refrigerators and radio broadcasting units.
- The tree’s wood is used to make barrels and or can be pulped to make paper. Fibers can be woven from the wood to make hats.
- The seeds contain oils that can be extracted and used either for culinary purposes or to make soap.
- A decoction of the thorns can be used to alleviate asthma or toothache.
- The common name for the tree in Spanish, palo borracho (literally “drunken stick”), purportedly derives from a practice of natives tribes from northern Argentina who used the wood to make bowls in which they fermented alcoholic beverages.
- 白花異木棉原產於南美洲西部地區，從哥倫比亞到阿根廷。
- 它可長到大約 30 英尺高和寬，通常有肥大、多刺的樹幹和展開的樹枝。
- 白花異木棉的花朵寬五英寸，呈乳白色至淡黃色，可泛著或帶有粉紅色條紋，在秋季和冬季落葉後出現。在原生地，花朵在晚上開放，並由夜間授粉者授粉。
- 開花後，緊隨的是光滑、綠色、梨形的果實，稱為蒴果。當果實乾燥時，它們裂開，釋放出密集的白色絲狀毛髮中的種子，這就是植物名字的由來。
- 幼時，樹幹和樹枝上覆蓋著能夠進行光合作用的綠色樹皮，但隨著年齡的增長變得灰色和有裂縫。樹皮上覆蓋著尖銳的錐形突起，通常被稱為刺。
- 白花異木棉可用作遮蔭樹或作為有趣的標本或觀賞樹。
- 其柔滑的絨毛已被用來填充枕頭、靠墊、床墊、床罩和其他家居用品。它也有驅除跳蚤、臭蟲和飛蛾的額外好處。它也比羊毛更能抵抗寄生蟲，因為它不含蛋白質類物質。它的絨毛比棉花輕，在水中有浮力，這一特性使它可用於救生衣、背心和夾克。它還可用於絕緣衣服，製服和帽子，或電器，冰箱和無線電廣播裝置上。
- 樹的木材用於製造桶，或可用於製漿造紙。纖維可以用木頭編織成帽子。
- 種子含有油，可以提取並用於烹飪或製造肥皂。
- 從刺煎熬的湯汁可用於緩解哮喘或牙痛。
- 這種樹在西班牙語中的俗名是 palo borracho（字面意思是“醉酒的棍子”），據稱源自阿根廷北部土著部落，他們用這種木頭製作碗，在其中發酵酒精飲料。
References 參考資料
- Wikipedia: Ceiba insignis
- The University of Arizona Campus Arboretum: white floss silk tree
- 百度百科: 白花異木棉
Plants Posts 植物的帖子