Skip to main content

Kapok (Ceiba pentandra)

Kapok or kapok tandu or Java cotton or silk-cotton or kapok (Ceiba pentandra) is a species of plant in the Malvaceae, fruit that creates an atmosphere on the streets resembling snowfall with scattered fibers, grows under an elevation of 500 meters and rainfall of 1500-2500 mm/year.

C. pentandra has a height of 60-70 meters, trunk diameter of 3 meters, tree bark is brownish green, roots spread horizontally on the soil surface. Stems towering singly or branched and often found with thorns.

Dlium Kapok (Ceiba pentandra)


Fruit is a source of fiber for mattresses, pillows, clothing, heat insulation and sound insulation. The dried skin of the fruit can be used for fuel. The seeds contain oil which is used for lubricants, lamp oil and energy raw materials.

Cultivated plants generally only grow to 10-30 meters. Trees bear fruit for the first time in 4-5 years and the economic age is up to 60 years.

Leaves, flowers and young fruit are edible. Plants are known to have biomedical potential that has not been widely studied along with other physiochemical properties. The leaves are commonly used to treat diarrhea, skin disorders, sedatives and pain relievers. Tops of branches to treat asthma.

The leaves produce organic compounds including phenolics 174 mg/g, alkaloids 4.54 mg/g, flavonoids 26 mg/g, tannins 0.48 mg/g, saponins 1.55 mg/g, phytic acid 0.15 mg/g, TUI (trypsin inhibitor) 14.54 mg/g, HUI (hemagglutinin inhibitor) 9.65 mg/g, oxalic acid 0.1 mg/g, palmitic acid and linoleic acid.











Fiber can be used as a hydrophobic-oleophilic absorbent material for cleaning up oil spills. The raw fiber is compacted to form packs with a density of 0.02g/cm3 to absorb 36, 43, and 45 gram/pack of diesel, hydraulic lubricant (AWS46) and engine lubricant (HD40) compounds.

This absorbance performance was significantly better than polypropylene compounds which were only able to absorb 8-10 grams/gram for the three compounds. This potential is the basis for increasing cotton production and triggering the recycling of production waste.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Subfamily: Bombacoideae
Genus: Ceiba
Species: Ceiba pentandra

Popular Posts

Korean mulberry (Morus indica)

Murbei or Korean mulberry ( Morus indica ) is a species of plant in Moraceae, shrub or small tree, up to 10 meters tall, slow growing, cylindrical stem, light brown with white nodules, M. indica has heart-shaped or oval-shaped leaves and sometimes three-lobed, 4-12.5 cm long, 2.5-7.5 cm wide, pointed tip, serrated margin, green and has a stalk. Monoecious inflorescences with male and female grow on the same tree, though often on different branches. Male flowers have a size of 9-11.5 mm and are covered with fine hairs. The female flowers are subglubose or only round in shape, measuring 6-9.5 mm. Stigma is 3.5 mm long with short, thick hair. The female flowers form compound fruit and are fleshy, green and white-haired to white, red and black when ripe. Korean mulberry is used in regulating blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Moraceae Genus: Morus Species: Morus indica

Broad-handed carpenter bee (Xylocopa latipes)

Broad-handed carpenter bee ( Xylocopa latipes ) is an animal species in the Apidae, tropical wood bees, very large, strong, solitary lives and builds nests by burrowing into fallen trees to telephone poles in forests and cities with warm tropical climates. X. latipes is overall black and shiny with black wings that turn bluish or greenish or metallic purple in sunlight. A pair of large eyes and a pair of antennae have broad bases. The back has a horizontal line. The abdomen is oval in shape with segments, the margins are wide and the back has thick hair. The broad-handed carpenter bee produces a loud, distinctive low-pitched hum that can be heard in flight. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Hexapoda Class: Insecta Subclass: Pterygota Order: Hymenoptera Suborder: Apocrita Infraorder: Aculeata Superfamily: Apoidea Epifamily: Anthophila Family: Apidae Subfamily: Xylocopinae Tribe: Xylocopini Genus: Xylocopa Subgenus: Platynopoda Species: Xylocopa latipes

Malabar melastome (Melastoma malabathricum)

Senggani or malabar melastome ( Melastoma malabathricum ) is a plant species in Melastomataceae, shrubs, 0.5-5 m tall, woody stems, sympodial branches and reddish brown, scaly young branches or tightly haired, taproots and brown, widely used for materials ink and medicine. M. malabathricum has single and stemmed leaves, oval, 2-20 cm long, 1-8 cm wide, tapered, flat edges, rough and hairy surface, upper surface dark green and bright green underside. A straight bone in the middle and two curved bones on the edge. Malabar melastome blooms throughout the year, compound, clustered at the tips of branches and light purple, 3-4 cm in diameter, sticky petals, hair, short end, tapered tip, scaly protective leaves and reddish purple. The flower has 8-12 stamens, 3 cm long, pink, a pistil, potted green potted head and ovaries have 4-6 spaces. Five crowns, ovoid and bright purple. The fruit has a rough skin, dark red and has many black seeds with aryl, cup-shaped and 8 mm long. Ripe fru...