Bombacopsis quinata (Jacq.) Dugand Pochote (Bombacaceae)

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Espinoza, R., Masís, A., Chavarria, F., Guadamuz, A. and Perez, D. 1998. Bombacopsis quinata (Bombacaceae) Species Page, June 15, 1998. Species Home Pages, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. http://www.acguanacaste.ac.cr

Deciduous tree, 30 (40) m tall (Croat 1978).

Flower:

Whit edible flower.

Fruit:

Brown dehiscent capsules, 5-6 cm long. The seeds are surrounded by cotton-like hairs.

Leaves:

Opposite, compound leaves (digitately).

Bark and wood:

The diagnostic characteristic is the large, thick spines on the trunk.

Trunk with characteristic spines

Whole plant architecture:

Similar species:

It can be confused with Ceiba aesculifoia, but Ceiba has less spines on the trunk and the fruits are larger.

Verification:

It is also known as Bombacopsis quinatum, but this in not the official name.

II.Geographic distribution:

International:

Nicaragua to Venezuela (Croat 1978).

In Costa Rica:

In the Area de Conservación Guanacaste:

In the semideciduous lowland forests.

Map of macro-habitats of the ACG

III. Natural History:

The wood is used for construction because of its durability.

It is polinized by bats and Sphingidae (moth). Parrots open the fruits to predate upon the seeds.

IV. How to find:

There are various individuals on the Indio Desnudo trail in the Santa Rosa sector.

Acknowledgements.

This project was carried out by the Area de Conservación Guanacaste/CR, with help from INBio/CR, ICBG from the Foggarty center, NIH/USA and NSF/USA.

Thanks to Kate Beattie for helping with the image management and the translation of this species page.

Literature cited:

Croat, T.B. 1978. Flora of Barro Colorado Island. Standford University Press, Standford.