The Ceiba aesculifolia is a species native to the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, in Mexico, and is known as pochote, boludo pochote, long pochote, slender pochote, ceiba ticachiohme, ceiba or dry pochote. In Guatemala it is known as Ceibillo.
This plant has interesting archaeological and ethnobotanical information about its use for a long time, since the inhabitants of Mexican areas consumed its seeds and meat from hunted animals as part of their diet. The bark of this tree is not so important in the construction industry, but it is in the box-making industry.
The Pochote. Caruche
Currently, this tree is consumed for its seeds, roots and flowers. The branches and stem of this species are used as firewood; the flowers are used as bait to hunt deer; From the mesocarp of the fruit, a substance similar to cotton is extracted that serves as a filling for pillows, and the bark is used to make handicrafts. Its leaves are also used to make a useful infusion in the treatment of ulcers and dermatitis.
It is a species that spreads through seeds and is not known to be cultivable. The products of this tree are obtained from the accumulation of individuals of this plant in nature, directly from their habitat. For its part, the conservation of this species is given by the inhabitants, who take care of this tree for its multiple uses.
characteristics
This plant species shaped like a tree or small shrub has stems and branches that may or may not have acorn (spikes). The bark of the stems can be smooth or fissured.
Its leaves are alternate, palmatic compound. It normally shows 5 to 8 leaflets on its leaves, and they are between 1.5 and 12 cm long. The blades of these leaflets present stellate trichomes (pubescence) on the main vein, and during maturity it is devoid of pubescence.
The flowers have a calyx 1.5 to 4.5 cm long, without pubescence or with very thin trichomes, white with green petals that can measure between 6 and 15 cm long, with a brown garment, stamens 1.5 to 3.5 cm long, and anthers sinuous or anfractuous.
This species of ceiba produces ellipsoidal, obovoid-pyriform fruits. At the same time, C. aesculifolia has subglobose seeds with strophylo.
Ceiba aesculifolia. Caruche
Normally, this tree does not have leaves in the January-March period, it blooms from November to May, and its fruiting period is from May to December.
Taxonomy
This plant species was described in 1896 as Ceiba aesculifolia (Kunth) Britten & EG Baker. However, the basionym for this tree was Bombax aesculifolium Kunt.
The Ceiba aesculifolia is divided into two subspecies: the aesculifolia subspecies, and the parvifolia subspecies. The difference between them is that in the first, the leaflets are 5 to 15 cm long, and have a sharp or acuminate apex, and bear fruits that are 10.5 to 19.5 cm long.
However, in the second subspecies, the leaflets can measure between 2.8 and 4.5 cm long, with a rounded apex, or slightly emarginate, with a pointed termination, and produce fruits between 3.5 to 8 cm long.
Its taxonomic description is as follows:
- Kingdom: Plantae.
- Phylum: Tracheophyta.
- Class: Spermatopsida.
- Order: Malvales.
- Family: Malvaceae.
- Subfamily: Bombacoideae.
- Tribe: Ceibeae.
- Genus: Ceiba.
- Species: Ceiba aesculifolia.
Habitat and distribution
It is a species that is distributed throughout the central part of Mexico, in the states of Morelos and Guerrero, in the Balsas river basin, and in the Puebla and Oaxaca states in the Papaloapan river basin.
It is a common tropical tree of low and warm lands. Its altitude distribution ranges from 600 to 2200 meters above sea level. This species can inhabit tropical deciduous, subdeciduous, Quercus, and gallery forest. It is obtained in tropical regions of America, and has been reported in countries such as Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the United States.
It is a species that is found in plant associations described as jiotillal (Escontria chiotilla), cardonal (Pachycereus weberi), tetechera (Neobuxbaumia tetetzo, cardonal (Cephalocereus column-trajani), fuquerial (Fouquieria formosa), and thorny scrub in arid tropical zones.
Conservation
In ecological terms, in Mexico, some studies have been carried out concerning the displacement that this tree species has had according to global climate change and the local climate.
This has been done taking into account that in ecological restoration studies it is necessary to know the area of influence of cities to understand the effect that urban heat can have on plant populations.
In relation to this, the increase in temperature of a place around a city can be as much as 8 ° C, compared to the increase in temperature in rural areas. Thus, in Mexico, in front of the city of Morelia, an increase between 4 to 8 ° C was detected, which significantly influenced the altitudinal displacement of seedlings of this tree.
In this way, in these studies a greater survival of seedlings has been found between 2200 and 2230 masl, that is, more than 100 m above the altitude limit in which the adult trees of this species are located in said area, and the reported limit in literature (2200 masl). Therefore, it has been recommended to sow this species between these altitudes to obtain a greater survival of the individuals.
Applications
Formerly, the fiber of the fruit (kapok) of this species, as well as of other kapok trees, was used to manufacture pillows, but today it has been replaced with the use of artificial fibers.
For its part, wood is used to make boxes, as it is a soft and light wood. Meanwhile, the fruits are edible, as well as their seeds.
Also, an infusion of this species can be made with its leaves that is used in the treatment of ulcers and dermatitis. In home gardens it is sown as an ornamental plant.
It is a species that does not have a category in terms of its conservation (minor concern), since it is a tree that the inhabitants protect for its multiple uses.
References
- Avendaño, A., Casas, A., Dávila, P., Lira, R. 2006. Use forms, management and commercialization of “pochote” Ceiba aesculifolia (HB&K.) Britten & Baker f. subsp. parvifolia (Rose) PE Gibbs & Semir (Bombacaceae) in the Tehuacán Valley, Central Mexico. Journal of Arid Environments 67: 15-35. Catalog of Life: 2019 Annual Checklist. 2019. Ceiba aesculifolia (Kunth) Britten & EG Baker. Taken from: catalogueoflife.org
- Valle-Díaz, O., Blanco-García, A., Bonfil, C., Paz, H., Lindig-Cisneros, R. 2009. Altitudinal range shift detected through seedling survival of Ceiba aesculifolia in an area under the influence of an urban heat island. Forest Ecology and Management 258: 1511-1515.
- Tropics. 2019. Ceiba aesculifolia (Kunth) Britten & Baker f. Taken from: tropicos.org
- The Taxonomicon. (2004-2019). Taxon: Genus Ceiba P. Miller (1754) (plant). Taken from: taxonomicon.taxonomy.nl
- Pérez, N., Gómez, A. 2013. Flora de Guerrero No. 54 Bombacaceae. National Autonomous University of Mexico. 30 p. Taken from: biodiversitylibrary.org
- Status of the biological diversity of the trees and forests of Guatemala. 2002. 62 p. Taken from: www.fao.org