Chorisia Speciosa - Bottle Tree (Forest Tree)

Genus of evergreen or deciduous trees native to South America. Chorisia speciosa is a deciduous tree up to 20 m tall, characterized by a squat trunk with a swollen and spongy base which acts as a water reserve. The trunk and branches, light green in colour, are covered with numerous thorns up to 3-5 cm long, which come off easily like those of roses. The crown is wide and rounded. The leaves are palmate and made up of 5-7 alternate leaflets. Chorisia speciosa differs from C. insignis in that its trunk is sometimes thicker and in the color of its flowers, which are pink and very showy. Flowering begins at the end of summer and continues until the first cold weather arrives. The fruits, which are ovoid capsules, open when ripe to form many "balls" in which the seeds are immersed. These fruits remain attached to the branches for a long time and give the tree a truly particular appearance. The cotton wool slowly unravels due to the wind, dispersing the seeds into the distance. These cotton-like fibers are actually false kapok, formerly used for the manufacture of life jackets. In fact, this fiber has the highest buoyancy power among natural materials. It is currently still used as a material to stuff cushions and to make insulating panels.

Pedoclimatic needs

It prefers well-drained sandy soils with a good organic substance content. Non-rustic species, it cannot tolerate temperatures below 0°C. During the dry season it benefits from regular watering, even if adult individuals tolerate drought well.

Botanical name

Chorisia speciosa sin. Ceiba speciosa

Family

Bombaceae