white silk floss tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• white silk floss tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ceiba mythica
• Ceiba integrifolia
• Chorisia integrifolia
• Chorisia insignis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Ceiba insignis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Malvales and the family Malvaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Ceiba.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In the Caribbean, it can be found growing within the Dominican Republic. Moving toward the western part of the South American continent, its range extends into Ecuador. Additionally, the species is documented to inhabit parts of Peru. These locations highlight the plant's presence in both island and continental environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Ceiba insignis is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons and establish a long-term presence within its ecosystem. As a deciduous species, it undergoes a seasonal cycle where it sheds its foliage, a physiological strategy often used to conserve water or manage resources during specific climatic shifts. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and deciduous behavior dictates its rhythmic patterns of growth, dormancy, and regeneration over many years.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ceiba insignis is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. As a terrestrial organism, it is neither aquatic nor epiphytic, existing as an independent species without parasitic tendencies. The plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a mean height of approximately 12 m, although it has the potential to reach a maximum height of up to 50 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

50 m

Plant height mean:

12 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ceiba insignis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide through the enzyme RuBisCO, which is typical for most woody tropical trees. In terms of its nutrient acquisition strategy, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than forming symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ceiba insignis is characterized by a specialized biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by bats. This reliance on animal vectors for pollen transfer is underscored by the absence of self-fertilization, which necessitates cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity and successful seed set. Once fertilization has occurred and seeds are developed, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are strategically dispersed by the wind to colonize new habitats.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Pollination syndrome :

bat

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ceiba insignis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower.

Flower

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Chemicals

Ceiba insignis has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Dihydrosterculic acid, STERCULIC ACID, kaempferol hexoside.

Dihydrosterculic acid

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

STERCULIC ACID

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

kaempferol hexoside

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Preparations

Ceiba insignis has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include C. insignis extract.

C. insignis extract

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC