Pochote
Ceiba aesculifolia

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

Found in Central America, Pochote (Ceiba aesculifolia) is a tropical deciduous tree with a thick, short bole and spreading crown. It reaches up to 25 m tall. Young fruit and ripe seeds are edible when cooked - ripe fruits are stewed and seeds are roasted. Seedpods are sources of floss that has various uses like as stuffing material in pillows, toys, and cushions, as tinder for starting fires, as material in weaving covers, and as an insulating material in refrigerators. Found In: Central America, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America. Other names: Ceibillo, Pochotte ceiba, Pochote apochote, Ceiba, Puchote.

Ceiba aesculifolia is a deciduous Tree growing to 25 m (82ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 25

Where it is found

Chiefly on dry plains or hillsides, mainly at elevations up to 1,500 metres. A rare species found in low, dry deciduous forests from Mexico to Costa Rica .

Central America - Costa Rica north to Mexico.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Found In: Central America, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Edible portion: Fruit, Seeds. Young leaves - cooked Ripe fruits are eaten stewed. The young tender fruits are sometimes cooked and eaten. Seeds - roasted.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 1

A plant recommended for digestive disorders. In the State of Mexico it is used as a purgative and emetic and Quintana Roo only as an emetic. In Yucatan fermented bark is used for sunstroke.

Emetic: Induces vomiting.

Purgative: A drastic laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain.

Skin: Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.

Other

Rating: 4

Other uses rating: High (4/5). Other Uses: The seedpods contain an abundant floss that has a wide range of uses. Traditionally, it is used as a stuffing material in pillows, cushions, toys etc; as a tinder for starting fires; and can also be used to make wicks for candles. The Maya used to weave covers from it. In more recent times, the floss has been found to be very effective as an insulating material in refrigerators.

Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.

Insulation: Providing insulation against extremes of temperature, sound or electricity.

Lighting: Plants that can be used as torches etc. See also Oil and Wax.

Stuffing: Used in making soft toys, mattresses, pillows etc.

Tinder: Used for starting fires. See also Kindling.

Weaving: Items such as grass and palm leaves that are woven together for making mats, baskets etc. See also Basket making and Fibre.

Industrial Crop: Fiber: Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Industrial Crop: Fiber: Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

It is a tropical plant. Succeeds in poor, dry soils.

Propagating it: Seed

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Pochote (Ceiba aesculifolia). Other names: Ceibillo, Pochotte ceiba, Pochote apochote, Ceiba, Puchote.

Synonyms

Bombax aesculifolium Kunth Ceiba acuminata (S.Watson) Rose Eriodendron acuminatum S.Watson Eriodendr