The Biology of the Genus Ceiba, a Potential Source for Sustainable Production of Natural Fiber

Abstract

The species of the genus Ceiba produces fruits with fibers with a high content of cellulose. The fiber is used for textiles, cushion filling and for industrial purposes and its characteristics have been studied in some species including Ceiba pentandra (kapok), C. speciosa and C. aesculifolia. The use of the trunk and seeds of Ceiba has also been described for different species. This article presents a review on the biological diversity of the genus Ceiba (Malvaceae). The genus Ceiba has 18 recognized species that are distributed naturally in America and Africa. However, some Ceiba trees have been introduced to various countries, especially in Asia, due to their ornamental interest and potential uses for their fiber. Ecophysiological studies of different Ceiba species have shown that resistance to adverse environmental conditions varies from species to species. Therefore, Ceiba species are considered potentially useful in restoring ecosystems impacted by human activity. The information related to the classification, morphological characteristics, phenology, ecophysiology and distribution of the different species will be extremely relevant for the sustainable production of kapok fiber. Finally, the recent genomic and transcriptomic studies also provide a valuable resource for further genetic improvement and effective use of Ceiba trees.

Genus <i>Ceiba</i> Mill. in Brazil: A comprehensive review on its ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and bioactivities

“…Trunks are straight, robust, and aculeate, and, in some species, such as C. speciosa, C. glaziovii and C. pubiflora, may have ventricose or "swollen" trunks, presenting a more robust area in stem middle portion. This particularity in its structure explains some common names given to these trees in South America, such as "barriguda" (in literal translation would be "paunchy"), in Brazil, and "palo borracho" (in literal translation would be "drunken tree") in Peru, Bolivia and Argentina (Gómez-Maqueo & Gamboa-Debuen, 2022;Pezzini et al, 2021). Trunk also culminates in a dense canopy, with alternate compound-digitated leaves, long petioles, and leaflets (in number of 5 to 7) with serrated margins.…”

Preparing epoxidized vegetable oil from waste generated by the kapok fiber industry and assessing its thermal stabilization effect as a co-stabilizer for polyvinyl chloride

“…Kapok fiber is a natural product obtained from the fruits of the silk-cotton or kapok tree ( Ceiba pentandra ) [ 1 ]. Kapok is of the Malvaceae family and is cultivated and is widely spread in several plantations in Southeast Asia, with most of the countries producing and exporting kapok fiber [ 2 ]. Kapok fiber is used for pillows, bedding, soft-toy stuffing, life jackets, and insulation against sound and heat [ 3 ].…”

Exploring the volatile metabolites of three Chorisia species: Comparative headspace GC–MS, multivariate chemometrics, chemotaxonomic significance, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 potential

“…Members of this genus are perennial, deciduous trees that are indigenous to the tropics and subtropics, particularly South America; however, they were also naturalized worldwide as popular ornamental plants. Chorisia plants produce showy bright-colored, unscented flowers during the autumn season; thus, adding a colorful shade in the sky when most blossoms are fading ( Huxley, 1992 , Ravenna, 1998 , Gómez-Maqueo and Gamboa-deBuen, 2022 ). These flowers are known to entice a variety of insects like bees and monarch butterflies that perform pollination ( Ravenna, 1998 ).…”

“…These flowers are known to entice a variety of insects like bees and monarch butterflies that perform pollination ( Ravenna, 1998 ). Chorisia trees are also of economic importance, providing soft flexible timber as well as edible and industrially valuable seed oil, in addition to the multipurpose silky fiber/floss of their ripe fruits ( Bailey, 1976 , Huxley, 1992 , Gómez-Maqueo and Gamboa-deBuen, 2022 ). Besides, they are traditionally used for the management of headache, rheumatic pain, gastric ulcers, parasitic diseases, diarrhea, and fever ( Adjanohoun, 1988 ).…”