Ceiba is a genus of large tropical trees in the family Malvaceae (order Malvales), native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas — from Mexico and the Caribbean south to northern Argentina — and to tropical West Africa. The genus comprises approximately 21 accepted species, ranging from towering rainforest emergents to smaller dry-forest trees.
The largest species can reach 70 metres (230 feet) in height, with a characteristically straight, largely branchless trunk that expands into a vast, spreading canopy. Many species develop enormous plank-like buttress roots that can stand taller than a person, and the trunk is often armed with large, conical spines. This architectural silhouette makes Ceiba among the most recognisable trees in Neotropical landscapes.
The best-known species is Ceiba pentandra, commonly called kapok or silk-cotton tree, which is also cultivated across tropical Asia. Its seed pods yield a lightweight, buoyant fibre — kapok — historically used in life preservers, insulation, and stuffing. The genus also includes striking ornamental species such as Ceiba speciosa and Ceiba insignis (formerly placed in the closely related genus Chorisia, which recent taxonomy has merged into Ceiba), known for their bottle-shaped trunks and large, showy pink or white flowers.
Ceiba species serve as larval food plants for certain Lepidoptera, including the leaf-miner Bucculatrix ceibae, which feeds exclusively on this genus. Several species are distributed across Amazonia, with Ceiba samauma and Ceiba lupuna among the prominent Amazonian representatives.
Etymology
The name Ceiba comes from the Taíno language, the indigenous people of the Caribbean, and means "boat" — a reference to the Taíno practice of carving the large, straight trunks into dugout canoes.
Distribution
Ceiba is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, ranging from Mexico and the Caribbean south to northern Argentina, and also occurs in tropical West Africa. The 21 accepted species occupy diverse habitats from Amazonian rainforest (Ceiba samauma, Ceiba lupuna) to dry forests of Ecuador and Peru (Ceiba trischistandra) and the Atlantic Forest of Brazil (Ceiba glaziovii, Ceiba jasminodora).
Ecology
Ceiba species are larval food plants for several Lepidoptera, most notably the leaf-miner moth Bucculatrix ceibae, which feeds exclusively on this genus. The large, emergent trees provide canopy habitat and nesting opportunities for birds and other wildlife in tropical forests.
Cultural Uses
Ceiba holds profound cultural significance across its range. The Maya civilisation regarded the Ceiba (ya'axché in Mopan Mayan) as an axis mundi connecting the underworld, earth, and sky — a cosmological role still honoured by modern Maya who often leave the tree standing when logging surrounding forest. It is the national tree of Guatemala and lends its name to cities including La Ceiba in Honduras and Ceiba in Puerto Rico.
Economically, Ceiba pentandra produces kapok fibre, harvested from seed pods and used historically to fill mattresses, pillows, and life preservers. The seeds yield an oil used in soap and fertiliser production, and the tree remains commercially important in Java, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Taxonomy Notes
Recent botanical opinion merges the formerly separate genus Chorisia into Ceiba, placing all species within the family Malvaceae (order Malvales). GBIF recognises Ceiba as an accepted genus within Malvaceae. Plants of the World Online (as of November 2025) accepts 21 species.
