Java cotton

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Silk Cotton Tree
• kapoktree
• white silk cottontree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Xylon pentandrum
• Ceiba guineensis
• Eriodendron anfractuosum var. caribaeum
• Ceiba guineensis var. ampla
• Ceiba guineensis var. clausa
• Ceiba pentandra f. albolana
• Eriodendron anfractuosum var. indicum
• Ceiba thonningii
• Bombax cumanense
• Bombax inerme
• Bombax guineense
• Bombax mompoxense
• Bombax orientale
• Bombax pentandrum
• Gossampinus rumphii
• Ceiba pentandra var. caribaea
• Ceiba caribaea
• Eriodendron guineense
• Eriodendron orientale
• Eriodendron pentandrum
• Ceiba pentandra f. grisea
• Eriodendron anfractuosum var. guianense
• Ceiba pentandra var. indica
• Eriodendron caribaeum
• Eriodendron anfractuosum var. africanum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Malvales, and the family Malvaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Ceiba.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Ceiba pentandra, exhibits a specific geographical distribution within the West Tropical Africa region. It is documented to grow naturally in the nation of Benin. Furthermore, its presence extends to the territories of Burkina and Gambia. The species also inhabits parts of Ghana within this tropical belt. Finally, its range includes the coastal area of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ceiba pentandra is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to an elevation of 2000 m AMSL. This species is frequently found within the specialized environment of the Floresta de Várzea, where it adapts to the specific hydrological conditions of seasonally flooded forests. This distribution allows the plant to occupy diverse ecological niches, from low-lying alluvial plains to higher montane elevations.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta de Várzea

Life history

The life history of Ceiba pentandra is characterized by its existence as a perennial organism, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs well above the ground level, developing a robust and towering structural framework that allows it to dominate the forest canopy. This growth strategy is complemented by its deciduous nature, as the plant periodically sheds its leaves, a seasonal adaptation that typically occurs during dry periods to manage water loss and optimize resource allocation throughout its extensive lifespan.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ceiba pentandra is characterized by its significant stature and robust structural development. It is a woody, self-supporting plant that exhibits a growth form ranging from a shrub to a large tree. As a terrestrial organism, it is independent and does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant displays considerable variation in size, with a minimum height of 15 m, a mean height of 35.25 m, and a maximum height reaching approximately 60.96 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

60.96074128 m

Plant height mean:

35.25 m

Plant height min:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ceiba pentandra is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many tropical woody species. The plant exhibits specific leaf morphological traits, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a mean of 10.5 cm, reaching a maximum of 16 cm. Correspondingly, leaf width varies from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 4.5 cm. Regarding its nutritional and resource management, the species is not a nitrogen fixer. The leaf dry matter content (LDMC) reflects its structural investment, showing a minimum value of 402.4 mg/g, a mean of 445.45 mg/g, and a maximum of 488.5 mg/g. Additionally, the plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining a more traditional leaf structure rather than specialized water-storing tissues.

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) max:

488.5 mg/g

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) mean:

445.45 mg/g

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) min:

402.4 mg/g

Leaf length max:

16 cm

Leaf length mean:

10.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ceiba pentandra is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically utilizing bats as primary pollinators. The flowering period typically occurs between February and March, featuring pink flowers that range in length from 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Self-fertilization is absent in this species, necessitating cross-pollination. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces dry, dehiscence-type fruits. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 11.25 cm (ranging from 7 cm to a maximum of 15 cm) and a width between 3.5 cm and 4 cm. The seeds produced are relatively small, with a mean length of 4 mm (ranging from 1 mm to 6 mm) and a mean mass of approximately 0.034 g, though individual seed mass can reach up to 0.0899 g. The seed volume is consistently recorded at 10 mm³. Dispersal of the seeds is achieved through anemochory (wind dispersal) and anthropochory (human-mediated dispersal).

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Flower length max:

2 cm

Flower length min:

1.5 cm

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

Mar

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

15 cm

Fruit length mean:

11.25 cm

Fruit length min:

7 cm

Fruit width max:

4 cm

Fruit width min:

3.5 cm

Pollination syndrome :

bat

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

6 mm

Seed length mean:

4 mm

Seed length min:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0899 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0340064285 g

Seed mass min:

0.045 g

Seed volume max:

10 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ceiba pentandra has 3 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, leaf, root.

Stem

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Phytochemistry

Leaf

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Root

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Ceiba pentandra has 38 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BETA-SITOSTEROL, (+)-catechin, 2,7-dimethoxy-5-isopropyl-3-methyl-8,1-naphthalene carbolactone, 2-hydroxy-5-isopropyl-7-methoxy-3-methyl-8,1-naphthalene carbolactone, 5,3'-dihydroxy-7,4',5'-trimethoxyisoflavone.

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

(+)-catechin

1. Journal of natural products

2,7-dimethoxy-5-isopropyl-3-methyl-8,1-naphthalene carbolactone

1. Journal of natural products

2-hydroxy-5-isopropyl-7-methoxy-3-methyl-8,1-naphthalene carbolactone

1. Journal of natural products

5,3'-dihydroxy-7,4',5'-trimethoxyisoflavone

1. Journal of natural products

7-Hydroxycadalene

1. Journal of natural products

Arachidic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Ceiba pentandra has 338 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Ceiba pentandra has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include diabetes mellitus, leishmaniasis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations