a large tree with its roots spread out

Ceiba pentandra, commonly known as the Kapok tree, Silk-cotton tree, or Ceiba tree, is a large and impressive tropical tree with a rich history and a range of practical and cultural uses. These Kapok trees produce large, green fruit pods filled with seeds. The seeds are embedded in a fluffy, cotton-like fiber known as "Kapok." Kapok fiber is buoyant, lightweight, and resistant to water. Because of these properties, it has been traditionally used to stuff pillows, mattresses, cushions, and even life jackets.