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Pseudobombax ellipticum facts for kids

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Pseudobombax ellipticum
Pseudobombax ellipticum album.jpg
Scientific classification
Genus:
Pseudobombax
Species:
ellipticum

Pseudobombax ellipticum, with common names including shaving brush tree, Dr Seuss tree, and amapolla tree, is a species of plant in the subfamily Bombacoideae of the family Malvaceae.

Distribution

The tree is native to southern Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hispaniola, Honduras and Cuba.

Description

Pseudobombax elipticum is a tree that can reach 18 m (60 ft) in height and 1.3 m (4 ft) d.b.h. Its branches are close to the base of the stem. It is a deciduous tree with succulent stems. Each of the flowers can produce hundreds of tiny black seeds (.1mm) that germinate within approximately 30 days.

The flowers are fragrant and if peeled back quite sticky.

Uses

Uses include firewood and wood for carving handicrafts.

The attractive flowers are used to decorate homes and churches in Central America. In Central America, a highly intoxicating drink is made from the tree.

Cultivation

The tree is grown as an ornamental tree in Florida, Hawaii, and coastal Southern California.

Gallery

  • Pseudobombax ellipticum
  • Pseudobombax ellipticum, Huntington

    Trunk

  • Pseudobombax ellipticum 06 ies

    Leaves

  • Pseudobombax ellipticum at Ringling

    Tree and blossom

  • Pseudobombax ellipticum floral scale model

    Flower in hand for scale

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pseudobombax ellipticum para niños

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Pseudobombax ellipticum Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.