Ceiba Pentandra

Gaertn.

Silkcotton tree (E); Bonga (C); Ceiba (C)p; Ceiba de lana (C); Igarwala (Cu); Kapok (C); Saquisaqui (C) . Seeds of this honey tree, edible after roasting, are ground to make mush. They yield a culinary oil used for illumination and soapmaking. The young fruits are a vegetable like okra. The young leaves serve as a potherb. The floss, irritating to the eyes, is used to stuff life-preservers, etc., and is also used as tinder. Wrapped around the trunk of a fruit tree, it is supposed to discourage leaf cutting ants. Wood ashes are used as a salt substitute and made into soap. The trunk is sometimes used for dugouts. The flowers are eaten by cattle. The Bayano Cuna use the bark in medicine for female troubles (!). A bath of a bark infusion is supposed to improve the growth of hair in Colombia. The same infusion is given to cattle after delivery to help shed the placenta.