huge Kapok Tree, Ceiba pentandra

[Eric in Orlando]

I was in Palm Beach Sat. and got some photos of this huge Kapok Tree, Ceiba pentandra. It is next to the Flagler Museum. It is over 100 years old and I believe is the Florida Champion Kapok. Check out the buttress on this monster. On the 3rd photo, the one of the buttress closeup, look at the root in the center between the 2 outer ones. Where it joins the tree is about 6ft off the ground to give you an idea of the scale of the tree. The canopy looks thinned from last year's hurricanes but the branch structure is intact, these are strong trees.

Down the street was a park with some nice Banyan Trees (Ficus benghalensis).

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph...._photos

[BigFrond]

This tree is very impressive.  If you want a treehouse, just plant one of these guys next to you home.  I have a small foot tall tree.  I will probably turn it to a 10 ft bonsai.

[amazondk]

This tree is known as the Sumaúma here in Amazonia.  It is the largest tree in the forest growing on the flood plane of the muddy water rivers in the region.  Many of the trees have been cut for plywood, but a few big ones are still around.  The tree grows very fast.  Here is a picture of part of the base of one with an associate of mine in the background.   They are very regal looking trees looking out at the river from up high.

[amazondk]

Eric,

Those are interesting pictures.  The trees around here get real tall, like 150 to 180 feet or so in height.  The picture I posted above is about a third of the base of the tree if I remember right.  They are massive trees.

dk

[DoomsDave]

Hmm.

Fabulous, impressive tree!

THe tree we call the Kapok tree is, I believe, Ceiba speciosa (formerly Chorisia), and its trunk is completely different, though very impressive, silver, covered with thorns.

Do those Ceiba bloom like Chorisia?

dave

[DoomsDave]

Here's the trunk:

[DoomsDave]

And here's a blossom:

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Hi Eric,

You were down here in my neck of the woods on Saturday while I was up there enjoying a stroll through Leu Gardens.  I was very impressed with the garden and amazed at the collection of trees, palms and other plants.  (I think you are a little optimistic on some of the selections though.  Breadfruit?)  A great garden you work at.  

The Kapok you shot at the Flagler Museum is used a lot as a wedding photo backdrop.  Me Brudder in law and sister in law got hitched there.

Dave,

The Kapok has those nasty large thorns that the C. speciosa has, when young anyway.  When it gets big, I think it loses them.  Don't know what the flowers look like.

Jerry

[amazondk]

Dave,

I think the C. speciosa is the same as what they call the paineira in southeast Brazil.  They are used a lot in cities.  I don't know what the flowers look like either.  I don't think the saumauma has spines on it.   At least the ones I have seen don't.  Here is picture of a rather small one.  They get a lot bigger than that, as shown in the other image.  One feature of the trees around here is the long clear trunk going up to around 100 feet before the tree branches out.  Granted, most of the big trees go their start as forest trees and had to grow up straight and fast to get to the sunlight.

dk

[Eric in Orlando]

Jerry, too bad I missed you. I went to Dr. Dowes talk on Livistona and headed to Palm Beach to pick up a palm and then remembered the Kapok Tree. I hadn't seen it for several years and wanted a photo.

The Breadfruit is an expirement. I want to see how root hardy they are. I know it will definitely die back in the low 40sF but I want to see if  it will resprout in the spring. It would make a nice "perennial" foliage plant if it does. I got a small one cheap to try. That area I planted is a very warm microclimate. That large clump of Rhapis humilis screens the north/NW wind.