Silk Floss Tree, FOTD Aug 26, 2023

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Silk Floss Tree

This tree popped up in the arroyo a block from my house a couple of years ago.  It is right next to the street, so I see it every time I leave my house. It produces huge pods full of kapok. 

For Cee’s FOTD

4 thoughts on “Silk Floss Tree, FOTD Aug 26, 2023”

  1. Lisa or Li's avatarmsjadeli

    Judy, I saw one of those trees in the indoor tropical garden at Meijer Gardens. I had never seen bark like that. It wasn’t in bloom that I could see, so it is nice to see what its blossoms are. And the kapok is a silk from its pods? Can you use it for anything?

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      They used to use it as padding in packages. Are you old enough to remember the envelopes you could buy in the post office that had an inner and outer layer of paper with a padding fiber between? That was kapok. They also used it in insulated jackets.

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      1. Lisa or Li's avatarmsjadeli

        Yes, I remember those envelopes. So interesting! The tree I saw at Meijer Garden didn’t have giant thorns on it, only small ones that probably wouldn’t bother a critter climbing on it too much.

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