The Great Kapok Tree

The Great Kapok Tree

A giant in the rainforests, the kapok tree can reach up to 200 feet in height, sometimes growing as much as 13 feet per year.

The kapok tree is found throughout the Neotropics, from southern Mexico to the southern

Amazon and even to parts of West Africa.

Because the unopened fruit won't sink when submerged in water, many believe the fruit of the kapok tree floated its way from Latin America to Africa.

The trunk can expand to 9 or 10 feet in diameter.

In the nooks and grooves of this huge plant live a diverse number of  species including frogs, birds and bromeliads.

The white and pink flowers of the kapok tree emit a foul odor that attracts bats.

The kapok tree does a great job at spreading its seeds, producing anywhere between 500 and 4,000 fruits at one time, with each fruit containing 200 seeds. When these fruit burst open, silky fibers spread the many seeds all over the forest.

The white and pink flowers of the kapok tree emit a foul odor that attracts bats.

The trunk can expand to 9 or 10 feet in diameter.

The majestic kapok tree has many uses for humans. Its wood is lightweight and porous; good for making carvings, coffins and dugout canoes

The silky fibers that disperse the seeds are too small for weaving but make great stuffing for bedding and life preservers.

Soaps can be made from the oils in the seeds.

Other parts of the giant tree are used as medicines.

A young man is hired to cut down a Kapok Tree that is part of a large ecosystem of animals and people. As he naps on the job, several animals and a young boy visit him and whisper in his ear the significance the tree has in their lives. After hearing testimony after testimony the young man realizes that cutting down one tree can make a significant impact on the environment. Upon waking the man decides not to cut down the tree.