Ceiba pentandra (Linn.) Gaertn. [family BOMBACACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol 1
Names
Ceiba pentandra (Linn.) Gaertn. [family BOMBACACEAE]
Common names
English cotton tree; cottonwood tree; silk-cotton tree; white silk-cotton tree; white-flowered silk-cotton tree; kapok tree; ceiba. French fromager; fromager commun; fromager des Antilles; fromager d’indo-malaisie; fromager inerme du Golf de Guinée; kapokier; faux kapokier; kapokier a fleurs blandes; kapokier du Togo. SENEGAL: BANYUN kidem (K&A) BASARI a-ndín (K&A; Ferry) BEDIK gi-ndii (K&A; Ferry) DIOLA (Brin/Seleki) busana (K&A) DIOLA (Fogny) busanay (K&A) DIOLA (‘Kwaatay’) étufay (K&A) FULA-PULAAR (Senegal) bâtigéhi (Aub., ex K&A) bâtinévi (K&A) KONYAGI a-man (Ferry) MANDING-BAMBARA bamâri (K&A) batân (K&A) MANDINKA kantaŋ (after K&A) MANINKA bana (auctt.) bana-bâdâ (Aub., ex K&A) bana-bandan (RS) bâtân (K&A) busana (AS; K&A) ‘SOCE’ bêtanô (K&A) SERER m-buday (auctt.) SERER-NON len (AS, ex K&A) NON (Nyominka) buday (K&A) budey (K&A) WOLOF bêtéńé (auctt.) THE GAMBIA: DIOLA-FLUP bosanobo = canoe (DRR; DF) FULA-PULAAR (The Gambia) bantehi (DAP) MANDING-MANDINKA bantalŋforo (def.-o) (JMD) bantaŋ (def.-o) (auctt.) WOLOF bentenki (DRR) betenbi (JMD) GUINEA-BISSAU: BALANTA psáhè (JDES) rumbum (JDES) BIAFADA brêgue (JDES) BIDYOGO cob-be (JDES) CRIOULO poilão (auctt.) polom (JDES) FULA-PULAAR (Guinea-Bissau) bantanhe (JDES; EPdS) MANDING-MANDINKA bantaŋ(-ô) bantango (def.) bintaforo (def.)MANDYAKpéntia (JDES) MANKANYA pèntè (EPdS) pentene (JDES) PEPEL metchene (JDES) n’teme (JDES) n’tene (untene) (JDES) GUINEA: BAGA (Koba) kö-porõ kö: tree (Hovis) FULA-PULAAR (Guinea) bantignei (CHOP; RS) bentégniévi (CHOP) KISSI banda (RS) KONO bara (RS) KPELLE uyé (RS) MANDING-BAMBARA banan (CHOP) MANINKA bana (CHOP) bana (RS) bana-bandan (RS) SUSU kondé (CHOP) TEMNE am-polon (Hovis) SIERRA LEONE: BULOM (Kim) poloŋε (FCD) BULOM (Sherbro) polon-dε (FCD; S&F) FULA-PULAAR (Sierra Leone) banta (FCD) GOLA sona (FCD) KISSI g-banda (FCD; S&F) KONO g-banda (auctt.) KRIO kσtin-tri = cotton tree (auctt.) LIMBA (Tonko) kutεnε (FCD) LOKO n-gukhσ(i) (FCD; S&F) MANDING-MANDINKA gbandaŋ (FCD) MANINKA (Koranko) banda (S&F) MENDE nguwa (def.-wei) (auctt.) SUSU konde (FCD) SUSU-DYALONKE konde-na (FCD) kundi-na (FCD) TEMNE am-poloŋ (auctt.) VAI g-banda (FCD) LIBERIA: DAN gwe (GK) gwèh (AGV) KRU-GUERE (Krahn) dju (GK) MANO geh (JMD) guéh (RS) MENDE nguwa (def.-wεi) (C & R) MALI: DOGON dámu the floss (C-G) jiṹ, j ṹ (C-G) FULA-PULAAR (Mali) bantignei (RS) bantiguehi (RS) MANDING-BAMBARA bana(n) (Houard) MANINKA bana (RS) bana-bandan (RS) UPPER VOLTA: BOBO pi (Houard) FULA-FULFULDE (Upper Volta) bantan (RS) bantignei (RS) HAUSA rimi (K&B) KIRMA belon (Houard) MANDING-BAMBARA banan (Bégué, ex K&B) DYULA banda (K&B) MOORE gunga (K&B) SONGHAI-ZARMA bantan (K&B; Aub.) bonetan (K&B; Aub.) TURUKA blo (Houard) IVORY COAST: ABE gbi (A. Chev.; K&B) ABURE enivé (B&D) AKAN-ASANTE akuondi (B&D) gna (B&D) BRONG guima (K&B) AKYE muong (A. Chev.; K&B) nguéhié (A. Chev.; K&B) won (A&AA) ANYI egniè, egnien (A&AA) enia (auctt.) enya (A. Chev.; K&B) AVIKAM egna (K&B; Aub.) etchui (A. Chev.; K&B) BAULE angbo (B&D) gna (B&D) gniè, gnien (A&AA) nyé (auctt.) DAN guê (RS) FULA-FULFULDE (Ivory Coast) banatan (Aub.) bantan (RS) bantignei (RS) bantiguehi (Aub.) GAGU gué (RS) molongué (K&B) KRU-BETE go (auctt.) GUERE diô (RS) tiô (RS) do (RS) tshyo (pl. tshui) (Bertho.) GUERE (Chiehn) go (B&D) GUERE (Wobe) djô (pl. dje) (auctt.) NGERE tshyo (pl. tshui) (Bertho.) KULANGO ton’go (auctt.) ton’ko (A. Chev.; K&B) toonko (K&B) KWENI dangué (B&D) n-gué (auctt.) gwε̃ε̃ (Grégoire) tyὲǹε the kapok (Grégoire) KYAMA agué (A. Chev.; RS) allotegué (B&D) anié (auctt.) MANDING-MANINKA bana (B&D) bana-bandan (K&B; Aub.) MANO ghê (RS) NZEMA eguina (A.Chev.; K&B) eniémé (A.Chev.; K&B) enyam’gua (K&B) enyan’gua (A.Chev.) SENUFO-TAGWANA sérigné (auctt.) ‘ONELE’ tiu (Houard; K&B) GHANA: VULGAR enyena (TFC) onyina (DF) ADANGME lεno (FRI; CJT) sokpe a spineless var. (FRI) AKAN-ASANTE onyina (Enti) ASANTE (Denkyera) onyina (Enti) BRONG danta (FRI) ekile (auctt.) σdanta-pu (FRI) FANTE onyãã (auctt.) onyãã (FRI) onyina anyina: firewood (Fante) cited by authors as the meaning of the name for this species is incorrect; onyina has no connexion (Enti) TWI onyã-hene = king silk cotton tree, a spineless var. (FRI; JMD) onyina (auctt.) WASA onyãã (auctt.) onyina (auctt.) onyina (Enti) ANYI enyaa (FRI) ANYI-AOWIN enya(a) (auctt.) SEHWI enyaa (auctt.) BAULE nye (FRI) BIMOBA gbang (FRI; JMD) DAGAARI gongu (FRI) goni (FRI; JMD) DAGBANI gumbihi the seed kernel (Gaisser) guna (FRI) guŋa (FRI) gunga (FRI) gunguma-gumdi the floss (Gaisser) gungumli the fruit (Gaisser) gungvale (FRI) kantong a paste made from the seeds (Coull; FRI) GA ayigbe ogbedei, Ayigbe: the Ewe people (JMD); a thornless var. (FRI) onyãá, onyãí (KD) GBE-VHE atepre (FRI) ẻuti (FRI; CJT) ofu (FRI) wudese (FRI) VHE (Awlan) ẻuti (FRI; CJT) ofwho (TFC; BD&H) vulẽ a spineless var. (FRI) VHE (Kpando) atepre a spineless var., dehiscent fruit (Ulbrich) be (FRI) be a spineless var. (FRI) VHE (Pecí) ẻuti (FRI) ofua (auctt.) GRUSI gung (auctt.) GUANG-GONJA kàkèlθ̀ (Rytz) kàkílíyà (Rytz) kakre (CV; FRI) kìlèntírékpémbì the fruit husk (Rytz) KRACHI kekyafu (auctt.) HAUSA rimi (auctt.) KONKOMBA bufo the fruit (Gaisser) bufo-sõgbum (Ulbrich) kpugbum (Ulbrich) tubungbing the floss (Gaisser) umfobille the seed-kernel (Gaisser) MAMPRULI gunga (JMD) NANKANNI gonga (FRI; JMD) gonga (FRI; JMD) NZEMA enyenna (CJT) enyεnσa (FRI) SISAALA kuŋkomo (Blass) kuŋ-kumuŋ the fruit-pod (Blass) kuŋkunuŋ the floss (Blass) TOGO: BASSARI bubumbu (Ulbrich) bufu (Ulbrich) tubumbum the floss (Gaisser) yigbum the fruit (Gaisser) GBE (Bε) aloe a spineless var. (FRI) eloe (FRI) loe-ti a spineless var., indehiscent fruit (FRI) GBE-FON huti (Ulbrich) vuti (Ulbrich) wuti (Ulbrich) GEN lovi a spineless var., indehiscent fruit (Ulbrich) VHE aloe, eloe a spineless var., indehiscent fruit (Ulbrich) evu (Ulbrich) ewu (Ulbrich) vu (Ulbrich) wu, wudese a spiny var., dehiscent fruit (Ulbrich) wuti (Ulbrich) KABRE botu the floss (Gaisser) botu-kisemto, botu-kocholemotu botu: floss, vars with indehiscent fruit (Houard) kolombolu the indehiscent fruit (Houard) komu (Ulbrich) kpong the fruit (Gaisser) KPOSO igboa a spineless var., indehiscent fruit (Ulbrich) ju a spiny var., dehiscent fruit (Ulbrich) juna (Ulbrich) MOORE-NAWDAM bahun (Ulbrich) gomu-dschiade the floss (Gaisser) gomu-schiere the fruit (Gaisser) ubombě (Ulbrich) TEM (Tshaudjo) bagbasse the fruit (Gaisser) komu (Ulbrich) YORUBA-IFE OF TOGO huti (Ulbrich) vuti (Ulbrich) wuti (Ulbrich) NAGO agú a spiny var., dehiscent fruit (Ulbrich) oguvé a spineless var., indehiscent fruit (Ulbrich) DAHOMEY: BASEDA guénesso (A.Chev.) BATONNUN guma (Houard) BUSA gbê (Bertho) DENDI bantan (Houard) FULA-FULFULDE (Dahomey) linihi (Houard) rinihi (Houard) GBE-FON adjoro hun (A. Chev.) gpati dêkrun (A. Chev.) hun-ti = the tree of the canoes (A. Chev.) FON (Gũ) bentan habu (Houard) VHE (Awlan) hunti (Houard) FON dehon (A.Chev.) gué dehunsu (A.Chev.; Houard) patin dehun var. with indehiscent fruit (Houard; A.Chev.) HWEDA hunsufu (Grivot) YORUBA-NAGO igi èégun, igi àràbà (A.Chev.) ogufé (Houard) NIGER: FULA-FULFULDE (Niger) bantiguehi (RS) SONGHAI-ZARMA forgo (Robin) NIGERIA: VULGAR araba from Yoruba (JMD) okha (JMD) ABUA ukem akabi (Kennedy) ù-mùùm (JMD) u-muum (pl. àrù-mùùm) (JMD; KW) ANAANG úkúm (JMD) ARABIC-SHUWA rum (JMD; KO&S) BOKYI bokum (JMD; KO&S) BUSA gbée (Houard) gbiê-li (Bertho.) EDO okha (auctt.) EFIK úkím (KO&S) FULA-FULFULDE (Adamawa) boju the floss (MM) used for tinder (JMD) FULFULDE (Nigeria) bantahi (pl. bantaaje) (auctt.) bantahi (MM) taamu the floss used for tinder (JMD) teka the floss (Westermann) GWARI gehi (JMD) gyehi (JMD) HAUSA rimi (auctt.) rimin Masar = Egyptian silk cotton tree; a var. with few or no spines (JMD) HAUSA (West) abdugar rimi the floss (JMD) alhawami the floss used for tinder (JMD) ganđiđb the roasted seeds (JMD) rini (JMD; ZOG) IBIBIO úkím (KO&S) IGALA agwu, agwugu (H-Hansen) IGBO ákpụ̄ (auctt.) IGBO (Arochukwu) ákpụ̄-ugu (Kennedy) IGBO (Onitsha) ákpụ̄ ógwū (Kennedy) IGBO (Owerri) ákpụ̄ ùdèlè = silk-cotton tree of the vulture (Kennedy) mbom (Kennedy) IJO afalafase (KO&S) IJO-IZON (Egbema) àsị̀sàghà (KW) ogungbologhá (Tiemo) IZON (Kolokuma) ị̀ságháị́ (KW) ISEKIRI ẽgungun (Kennedy) ISOKO ahe (Singha) KANURI torn the tree (K O&S; C&H) NUPE kúci (Banfield; KO&S) lembúbúrú the fruit (Banfield) SHANGA gbê-siê (Bertho) konngô (Bertho) TIV vàmbè (JMD; KO&S) URHOBO óháhèn (auctt.) YEKHEE ọkho (Kennedy) YORUBA àràbà the tree (auctt.) ẹ̀ẹ́gun (JMD) ogungun (KO&S) òwú ẹ̀ẹ́gun the floss (JMD) WEST CAMEROONS: DUALA bŭma (Ithmann) kabò (Ithmann) KPE buma (JMD) wuma (Reder) LUNDU bum (JMD)
Uses
leaf flowers seed Food: general leaf bark Medicines: generally healing bark Medicines: pain-killers leaf Medicines: sedatives, etc. leaf mucilage Medicines: eye treatments bark Medicines: oral treatments bark Medicines: pulmonary troubles leaf bark Medicines: stomach troubles bark Medicines: skin, mucosae bark Medicines: "intestines" bark Medicines: emetics flower Medicines: laxatives, etc. bark Medicines: diarrhoea, dysentery leaf bark Medicines: venereal diseases leaf bark Medicines: fabrifuges bark root Medicines: leprosy bark Medicines: dropsy, swellings, oedema, gout leaf Medicines: tumours, cancers Medicines: homeopathic bark Medicines: heart seed Phytochemistry: glycosides, saponims, steroids bark seed Phytochemistry: tannins, astringents stem-bark root-bark Phytochemistry: hydrogen cyanide wood-ash oil Phytochemistry: soap and substitutes seed Phytochemistry: fatty acids, etc. leaf bark Phytochemistry: mucilage Agri-horticulture: fodder Agri-horticulture: veterinary medicine Agri-horticulture: bee/honey plants, insect plants Agri-horticulture: land conservation seed-cake Agri-horticulture: composting, manuring Agri-horticulture: shade-trees Products: building materials fruit-pod Products: floss, stuffing and caulking Products: pulp and paper bark Products: dyes, stains, inks, tattoos and mordants pod-ash Products: tobacco, snuff floss Products: fuel and lighting Products: household, domestic and personal items wood Products: pastimes-carving, musical instruments, games, toys, etc. Social: religion, superstitions, magic Social: ceremonial Social: sayings, aphorisms
Description
A tree to as much as 65 m high by 10 m or more in girth, with long cylindrical bole and huge buttresses to 8 m high and wide spreading; bole and branches spined when young; main branches horizontal and often bracketted below to the stem; of the secondary forest, seldom if ever in virgin forest, and conspicuous in savanna near habitations. It is said to be the largest tree of the West African region and occurs throughout. The species is thought to be originally from tropical America and it has been postulated that the light seed with the floss could have been wind-carried across the Atlantic (10). The floss, however, is not attached to the seed which is readily shaken out. The plant is now dispersed pan-tropically and a number of varieties and cultivars are recognized: var. caribaea is that of America and Africa, and var. indica is in Asia from which the bulk of the world’s supply of kapok comes.The English name, cotton tree, or silk-cotton tree, is derived from the floss of the seed pod. The floss resembles that of the cotton plant, Gossypium, but is silkier. The name kapok is from Malay for the floss and is a universal trade name. The French name fromager originated from French settlers in the Antilles of the Sixteenth century who likened the wood to being as soft as cheese (fromage) (10).The tree is to some extent an anthropogene. It does not occur in virgin forest. It is an evanescent, quickly appearing in abandoned land. Its occurrence in forested areas is held to be a sign of disturbance. Nor does it occur in grass savanna which is subjected to annual burning as the tree does not survive fire, but in savanna land the tree is to be found in the proximity of habitations, albeit perhaps abandoned. The sight of a tree on the horizon to a traveller is a welcome direction post. In towns and villages it is planted as an avenue and shade tree. In built-up areas it will prove to be a troublesome one as the roots effect forceful entry into cracks in buildings, roads, drains, etc., and pass through or under and disturb foundations. In SE Asia the Asian variety has been planted as a shade tree for coffee and support for pepper (8). There may be a use in this way for cacao. In the soudan zone, it is the normal ‘palaver tree. Perhaps the best known is the specimen in the centre of Freetown, Sierra Leone, at the foot of which slaves returning from the Western Hemisphere were symbolically set free. Because of its size, it has become an important sacred and fetish tree, and is held to have magical properties. Over most of the soudanian region it is thought to be inhabited by the divine Python, symbol of maleness. Indeed the very extensive surface spreading lateral root-system suggests long snakes around the base of the tree, and for some races the roots especially are sacred as evoking a giant serpent (20). Other trees are also considered sacred, but the Ceiba is the most important. At the commencement of the rains offerings are made to it. In a village the tree is always planted to the southward, the direction from which the ‘beneficial forces’ come (24). It is also planted at the entrance to sacred groves during initiation ceremonies (29), and at tombs where offerings may be made at its base to the Shades of the Ancestors or to protective genie. In Gabon two trees may be planted before a house where twins have been born (32). In Sierra Leone at certain places it is the centre of a ceremony to pray for long life, wealth, good harvest, prosperity and the well-being of the population. The leader of the celebrants should be an elderly person and a leading citizen of the village (4). When bark is required for medical treatment it is common to take it from either the east or the west side, a mark of sun-worship evinced by all races even those mohammedanized (21). In N Nigeria the leaves, along with other herbs, enter into prescriptions to ensure popularity (Meek fide 11).The wood is white, sometimes with yellowish or greyish streaks, very soft and light, and brittle when dry. It is liable to insect and fungal attack, and decomposes rapidly if unseasoned. It is resistant to impregnation, but can be used for rough crates though it is liable to split and does not hold nails nor glue well. Paper-pulp and the core of plywood are possible uses but large-scale commercial use seems unlikely. The wood wears tolerably well in domestic and household articles if seasoned, and it is used to make chairs, dishes, boxes, drums, carved figures, idols, stamps and dies, for modelling, musical instruments, etc. It is one of the woods commonly used to make Ashanti stools, and at one time it was the principal timber for making rice-mortars in Guinea. Prisoners-of-war in Japanese hands in Thailand, 1942–45, used the wood to make clogs and wooden soles of sandals for which it served very well. Plane articles such as doors, table-tops, plates, trays, etc., are made from the buttresses. As firewood it is of no value as it only smoulders, but this is put to use to fumigate huts or clothing, etc. (3, 10, 11, 13, 17, 27–31).The very light density of the wood (0·28–0·35 dry wt.) (29), and the ease with which it can be cut makes the wood valuable for canoes and these are to be found on all West African rivers. The Nzema of Ghana even make seagoing canoes of it (30). In Dahomey the tree is known as ‘the tree of the canoe’, and trunks and the larger branches are hollowed out, and enormous dugouts fashioned to hold as many as 100–150 people (10). The buoyancy is such that even if swamped the canoe remains afloat.Wood-ash is widely used in Africa as a kitchen salt and in soap-making. In Casamance, Senegal, ash from the pods is used in making snuff and in Guinea at Fouta Djalon in the indigo industry (17).The bark contains a blackish mucilaginous gum which swells in water and resembles tragacanth. It is astringent and is used in India and Malaya for bowel-complaints and in West Africa for diarrhoea (6, 8, 16, 20, 33). The bark also contains tannin recorded as 10·82% (20, 33) which is too low a concentration for tanning. There is also a reddish-brown dye used in E Africa on fabrics (14). The bark is used in folk-medicine on skin-infections in Nigeria. Examination of the bark has shown no action on Gram +ve or Gram –ve bacteria, nor on fungi (22). Tests for alkaloids have indicated none present (1). Root and stem-bark has shown the presence of hydrocyanic acid (33) and bark-extracts have given curare-like action on anaesthetized cat-nerves (21, 23).A bark-decoction is used for tooth-troubles in Senegal (19) and in Liberia as a mouth-wash, and for dysentery, and topically on swollen fingers (23). Stem and root-barks are considered emetic (10, 32, 33) and antispasmodic (6, 33). In Ivory Coast a tisane is taken for diarrhoea and localized oedemas and a decoction is used to wash sores, furuncles and leprous macules (6). In Congo a bark-decoction is taken by mouth to relieve stomach complaints, diarrhoea, hernia, blennorrhoea, heart-trouble and asthma, and in mouth-washes and gargles for gingivitis, aphtes and sometimes toothache (5). In Nigeria a bark-infusion is taken as a febrifuge (2). Homeopathically a bark-decoction is given to ricketty children on the precept of the tree’s rapid growth, and bark-sap is given to sterile women to promote conception by reason of the fecundity of the seed in Ivory Coast-Upper Volta (21) and in Congo (5).In Gabon the bark of young trees, with the spines removed, is used to make hut-walls (32). The bark of the Asian variety contains a reddish fibre (8).The root-sap in India is said to cure diabetes (23), and the root enters into various remedies for leprosy in Ivory Coast-Upper Volta (21).The young leaves are sometimes cooked and eaten in West Africa as a soup herb (11, 28). They serve as goat-fodder. The mature leaves contain a mucilage which can be obtained by boiling and is used to remove foreign bodies from the •eye in Ivory Coast (6). They are held to be emollient and sedative in Gabon (32). In Congo leaf-sap is given in draught to mental cases, and at the same time the head is washed with a bark-decoction and a circlet of bark is tied round the head (5). In NW Senegal freshly pounded leaves are steeped in water which is drunk for general fatigue (7), and in southern Senegal in Casamance the leaves are used to counter fatigue and lumbago (18). Senegalese medicinemen use them also to prepare a decoction for eye-instillations to treat conjunctivitis (20). The leaves are used in Nigeria as an alterative and laxative, and an infusion is given as a cure for colic in man and in stock (2). In the Kano area of N Nigeria they are pounded to a fine state to apply as a curative dressing on sores (34). A wet poultice of pulped leaves is used to maturate tumours in Guinea (15, 25) and on whitlows in Congo and massage with leaf-pulp and baths in bark-decoction are considered excellent for evening fevers, especially those deemed to arise from evil influence (5). Its use for gonorrhoea in West Africa is also recorded (33).The flowers are used in Guinea for constipation (25). Flowers and fruit are emollient (33). In W Cameroons the whole flower, or more usually just the calyx, is eaten (12). The flowers may be bat-pollinated (27), but nevertheless are visited by bees and the amber-coloured honey produced has a characteristic taste (17).The fruit pod is pendulous and normally 10–15 cm long but may be as much as 30–37 cm according to variety. Floss is contained within it and this is the kapok. Typical trees have pods which burst open while still attached. Harvesting is usually undertaken by knocking the pods off before they reach this degree of ripeness. There is variability between trees in this respect. There are some varieties which spontaneously shed their pods before bursting. Both these are important characters. In a large tree some climbing is necessary if pods are to be knocked off, so a third crucial matter is the presence or absence of spines on the trunk and main branches. Some work has been done to propagate trees with white floss, indehiscent pods and spinelessness, but this field requires more attention. Desirable mother-trees can be cloned by cuttings. Trees normally come into bearing at the age of 6–8 years. A considerable amount of selection work has been done in Indonesia on var. indica, but on introduction to Africa this variety has not thrived.The floss is normally greyish. White is a desirable colour and cultivars with white or snow-white floss are known. The fibre is normally up to about 2·7 cm long, fine, silky and too smooth to be spun. Attempts to put a crimp into it have not been economically worthwhile. It is widely used in West Africa and throughout the world to stuff cushions, pillows, mattresses, etc. The fibre retains air and has a resistance to wetting so that it maintains a remarkable buoyancy making it an excellent material for lifebelts and emergency rafts on board ship. In this respect it is superior to cork. It loses only 10% of its buoyancy after 30 days in water and this, on drying, is fully restored. The floss is usable for surgical preparations, replacing cottonwool. It is very inflammable when thoroughly dry and can be used as tinder with flint and steel. It has been used as a base for gun-cotton and in fireworks (8, 11, 17). It is a good acoustic insulant.The fibre is irritant to the mucosae of the eyes, nose and throat, and during the period of pod-burst, the air filled with floss may set up allergies. In Senegal outbreaks of conjunctivitis are attributed to this (20). For this reason as well as disturbance caused to the foundations of buildings and roads, the tree is really not suitable as a shade or avenue tree in village or town areas. Chemicals identified in the floss are pentosans and uronic anhydrides (20).The seeds are contained loosely within the floss and separation is usually effected by beating. They are oil-bearing and their oil, known as kapok oil, is similar to ground-nut oil with potential applications in industrial manufacturing as well as for food. Content is 22–25% of which about three-quarters can be obtained by expression. Composition is variable according to region but is of the order: oleic acid 50–53%, linoleic acid 26–29%, palmitic acid 10–16%, stearic acid 2–5%, traces of arachidic and myristic acids and phytosterol (20, 26). A large number of animo-acids are present in the seed of which glutamic acid and arginine are the most abundant (9). Kapok oil is usable in ointments and is official in the British Pharmaceutical Codex 1959 as a substitute or adulterant of cotton-seed oil and olive oil. It can be used for illumination, soap and paint manufacture and lubrication as well as for cooking (17). The oil is said to be used in Nigeria for rheumatism (2).The seeds are commonly eaten in West Africa and still containing the oil are pounded and ground to a meal, and cooked in soup. The Hausa of N Nigeria roast the seed to prepare a foodstuff called ganđiđo, and in Ghana Dagbani prepare them into a paste called kantong which is taken as a food or as a seasoning (11, 17).The seed cake is a good cattle-feed and has a high protein content, 39% dry weight of the kernels (9). It is also a good agricultural fertilizer.
References
References:1. Adegoke & al., 1968. 2. Ainslie, 1937: IFI, sp. no. 82. 3. Anon., s.d. 4. Boboh, 1974. 5. Bouquet, 1969: 74. 6. Bouquet & Debray, 1974: 53. 7. Boury, 1962: 15. 8. Burkill, 1935: 501–5. 9. Busson, 1965: 307–8, with chemical analysis of seeds. 10. Chevalier, 1937, c. 11. Dalziel, 1937. 12. Gartlan 6, K. 13. Gomes e Sousa, 1930: 48. 14. Greenway, 1941. 15. Hartwell, 1968. 16. Howes, 1949: 71. 17. Irvine, 1961: 190–3. 18. Kerharo & Adam, 1962. 19. Kerharo & Adam, 1964, c: 298. 20. Kerharo & Adam, 1974: 245–7. 21. Kerharo & Bouquet, 1950: 64. 22. Malcolm & Sofowora, 1969. 23. Oliver, 1960: 22, 54. 24. Paq̉es, 1953: 1645. 25. Pobéguin, 1912: 9, as Eriodendron anfractuosum. 26. Quisumbing, 1951: 595–8. 27. Robyns, 1963: 204. 28. Savill & Fox, 1967: 56. 29. Schnell, 1950, b: 231, 259. 30. Taylor, 1960: 107. 31. Voorhoeve, 1965: 64. 32. Walker & Sillans, 1961: 106. 33. Watt & Breyer Brandwijk, 1962: 148. 34. McIntosh, 26/1/79.
Contributor
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
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