Kapok (Ceiba pentandra) and the Mayans


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	Kapok (Ceiba pentandra) and the Mayans I splurged and bought a field guide (more on that later) for the Yucatan, and I've been enjoying looking back at least year's photos to finally get an idea what I saw at Uxmal. I'm pretty sure this tree is Kapok (Ceiba pentandra), which is quite common in southern Mexico but can also be found throughout Central American, the Caribbean, the northern part of South America, and even in tropical west Africa. (Kapok trees are also cultivated in plantations in Asia.) Kapok is quite distinctive, with palmately compound leaves, a thorny trunk (when young), and buttresses at the base of the tree. Until recently, the cottony fibers in the seed pods were widely used to stuff mattresses and other objects, especially life preservers, and were also used as insulation. In addition, the leaves are sometimes used when preparing Ayahuasca (a hallucinogenic drink that seems to be popular at the moment in various circles.) Kapok is often called by its scientific name Ceiba (pronounced "say-ba") in Mexico, which is actually a Mayan word referring to the tree of life. Like the cedar tree in the center of Sunwatch Village, the Ceiba was sacred to Mayans, who believed it connected the three worlds. Ceibas were planted in the middle of Mayan plazas and you can even see Ceiba thorns decorating Mayan ceramics, like the one shown below. Isn't it strange how my obsessions with North American Native Americans and Mayans interlink? The Kapok is a typical part of the tropical decidous forest in Mexico, although it can be found in other habitats. The plant is well-adapted to the harsh conditions on the northern side of the Yucatan peninsula, since the buttress roots help the tree survive hurricane winds and since the tree can store water in its trunk for use during dry spells. During the dry season (November through April in Mexico), Kapoks and their neighbors lose their leaves --- thus the term "tropical deciduous forest" for their habitat. Never beg for vacation time again. Create your own work schedule with Microbusiness Independence. Want to be notified when new comments are posted on this page? Click on the RSS button after you add a comment to subscribe to the comment feed. RSS Made my day! The Ceiba thorns on the Mayan pottery is truly fascinating. As an art historian (obviously not of Mayan specialty), I am deeply fulfilled by how interdisciplinary my continued learning and studies become-- today it was through your thorough ecological expertise that I gained that fulfilled feeling! Thank you Comment by W.E. Junkie — Sat Jul 10 15:07:06 2010 Remove comment comment 2 Thanks for coming over here and reading! I've been a bit obsessed with all of this archaeological/cultural information, as you can tell. I figure it's not as useful to me as permaculture, but the information is pulling at me, so clearly there's a reason for me to look into it. Comment by anna — Sun Jul 11 08:15:55 2010 Remove comment comment 3 huh, here I though the kapok was a chinese plant as all the best futons, and meditation cushions are stuffed with it. Comment by Anonymous — Sun Jul 11 21:33:19 2010 Remove comment comment 4 My understanding is that the Kapok was brought to Asia, where they put in large plantations to harvest the fibers. So, it must be pretty widespread there now. Comment by anna — Mon Jul 12 17:00:12 2010 Remove comment Add a comment