Ceiba speciosa
Ceiba speciosa, commonly known as the silk floss tree, is a striking tropical plant celebrated for its massive, thorny trunk and vibrant bell-shaped flowers. Beyond its ornamental beauty, this species holds significant ethnobotanical value, with various parts utilized in traditional medicine to treat ailments ranging from inflammation to digestive issues.
- Scientific name: Ceiba speciosa
- Family: Malvaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Malvales and the family Malvaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identification is completed by the genus Ceiba.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malvales | WCVP |
| Family | Malvaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Ceiba | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Ceiba speciosa, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Greenlandic, it is called Samu'ũ, while in Hebrew, it is known as כוריזייה הדורה. Spanish speakers call it Chorisia, and in Catalan, the name used is Corísia. Finally, in Japanese, the plant is referred to as トックリキワタ.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| gn | Samu'ũ | Wikidata |
| he | כוריזיה הדורה | Wikidata |
| es | Chorisia | Wikidata |
| ca | Corísia | Wikidata |
| ja | トックリキワタ | Wikidata |
| nl | Chorisia | Wikidata |
| ne | घ्याम्पे रूख | Wikidata |
| fi | pullokapokkipuu | Wikidata |
| lt | Puošnusis kapokmedis | Wikidata |
| pl | Puchowiec wspaniały | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide and diverse geographical distribution across several continents. In Northeast Tropical Africa, its presence is noted within the borders of Ethiopia. Moving to the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in India. Its reach extends significantly into Western South America, specifically within the countries of Bolivia and Peru. Finally, the species is also located in the West-Central region of Brazil.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Western South America | Bolivia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Peru | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil West-Central | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil Northeast | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil Southeast | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil North | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil South | WCVP |
| Southern South America | Argentina Northeast | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Ceiba speciosa, commonly known as the silk floss tree, possesses various components that are utilized for their therapeutic properties. The stem bark is frequently studied and used in traditional medicine, often valued for its potential medicinal qualities in treating different ailments. Additionally, the flower of the plant is notable not only for its striking visual appearance but also for its role in the plant's biological processes and its potential contributions to traditional medicinal practices.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stem bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flower | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Ceiba speciosa has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include dihydrosterculic acid, flavonoids, kaempferol hexoside, sterculic acid, sugars.
- Total chemicals
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| dihydrosterculic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kaempferol hexoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sterculic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sugars | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Ceiba speciosa has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antiulcer, Antiulcerogenic.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiulcer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiulcerogenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Ceiba speciosa has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include gastric diseases, gastric ulcer, peptic ulcers.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| gastric diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastric ulcer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| peptic ulcers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |