October 11, 2008
This page was motivated by a single tree in the Stanford Inner Quad.

Silk floss tree

I have long been struck by the unusual nature of the tree: In fall, it exploded with beautiful pink flowers - largely in the absence of leaves. It is a magnet for hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Thanks to Herb Fong for helping me to identify it.

The naming/classification of the tree is surprising and confusing.

OK. OK. The tree is:

Ceiba speciosa

Silk floss tree

Floss silk tree

Floss silktree.

There are also some references called it a kapok tree. However, kapok most typically refers to the related. Ceiba pentandra. There are some references called it a bombax tree. However, there is a separate, but related Bombax genus (including confusingly Bombax ceiba.)

Another closely related genus is Adansonia which is comprised of the eight species of Baobab tree.

These three genera were formerly part of the Bombax family Bombacaceae.
Bombacaceae was shown to be a heterogeneous group (polyphyletic) and these three genera were reassigned to the much larger Malvaceae (mallow or hibiscus) family. This family is apparently also under scrutiny.
The three genera are part of the subfamily Bombacoideae.

Ceiba in bloom

Ceiba flower close-up

One flower

Silk floss

Silk floss
Arizona Cactus Garden, Stanford
With Photographing Nature class
October 7, 2017
Canon Rebel T5i

Silk floss

Silk floss
Arizona Cactus Garden, Stanford
With Photographing Nature class
October 7, 2017
Canon 7Dmark2

Silk floss

Silk floss
Arizona Cactus Garden, Stanford
With Photographing Nature class
October 8, 2016
Canon 7Dmark2

Cactus
Arizona Cactus Garden, Stanford
With Nature Through Photography class
August 21, 2016
Canon Rebel T5i

Silk floss
Arizona Cactus Garden, Stanford
With Photographing Nature class
January 19, 2019
Canon 7Dmark2

Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna)
Family: Trochilidae (hummingbird family)
Silk floss tree (Ceiba speciosa)
Family: Malvaceae (mallow family)
Arizona Cactus Garden, Stanford
With Photographing Nature class
October 12, 2019
Canon 7Dmark2

Flowers

Orchids

Lobelia

Buddhas hand

Tulips

Protea

Nepenthe

Rafflesia