Pseudobombax septenatumis a deciduous tree in the family Malvaceae and the subfamily Bombacoidae that grows to about 25 m. Green, vertical lines run up the stem of the tree. The mean DBH is 140 cm and has a bulging base (Croat, 1978). This bulging stem is 70 times more efficient at transferring water to the leaves that the leaf bearing stems. This allows it to have high transpiration rates and decreases the risk of embolism in the leaves and reproductive parts (Machado & Tyree, 1994). It is common in secondary forests from Nicaragua to Brazil (Croat, 1978; Condit et al., 2011). It has white flowers that are pollinated by bats and are eaten by monkeys and sloths (Croat, 1978; Happel, 1983; Ballesteros et al., 2009). It produces woody, dehiscent fruit that is filled with grayish kapok or cottony filaments and winged seeds that are dispersed by wind (Croat, 1983).
Pseudobombax septenatum is distributed from Nicaragua to Brazil and Peru (Croat, 1978). It is more prominent in drier areas such as on the pacific slope and in young, secondary forest (Condit et al., 2011). It is found in Barro Colorado Island, Panama and the pacific side of Isla del Caño, Costa Rica (Croat, 1978). However, there are few saplings and is not readily regenerating (Condit et al., 2011).
Pseudobombax septenatum is more commonly associated with the Holdridge life zone of tropical dry forest, but also is in tropical moist forest, premontane moist forest, and even tropical rainforest in Brazil (Croat, 1978).It is more commonly found in open areas because while it is shade tolerant for short periods of time, it grows significantly faster in the sun. When there is sun, it is a fast growing tree with low wood density (Augsburger, 1984), given that, it is rare in mature forest and only found in large clearings (Condit et al., 2011).
The trunk is swollen at the base and lack buttresses and spines (Condit et al., 2011). The bark contains vertical green lines. The stalks are 10-60 cm long.The leaves are alternate and palmately compound composed of elliptic leaflets with pointy tips and prominent secondary veins. The leaflets vary from 7-29 cm long and 4-14 cm wide. (Gargiullo et al., 2008).
Leaf phenology
At the beginning of the dry season (January-February) P. septenatum drops its leaves (Croat, 1978). Precipitation is the main limiting factor that drives leaf phenology (Devall et al., 2005). Phenology might be a result of a high risk of embolism in leaf bearing stems and petioles, due to water stress.Machado and Tyree (1994) study predicted leaf area would decrease by 5-30% a result of embolism if the species would keep its leaves in the dry season. However, this is not a big enough difference to be the main reason for phenology. Populations in different locations dropped their leaves around the same time, indicating that senescence is not based solely on climatic factors (Lobo et al., 2003). Leaves regrow at the beginning of the wet season in May (Croat, 1978).
Flowering
Flowers at the beginning of the dry season in February, two weeks after it drops its leaves (Croat, 1978). However, one study found that it begins in December and is the first Bombacoidae to flower and has the longest flowering period. Few flowers are produced at the beginning and end of the dry season to have this extended flowering period. Flowering increases in March (Lobo et al., 2003). Pseudobombax septenatumproduces a white to light pink inflorescence. There are 5 linear petals that are 7-9 cm long and 2 cm wide. The central filament is surrounded by more than 1000 stamen that curl backward creating a dense pufflike cluster that is 9 cm wide and 6 cm long (Gargiullo et al., 2008).
Pollination
Like most bombacoidae trees, the flowers are pollinated by bats (Croat, 1978). These bats include Carollia perspicillata, Leptonycteris curasoae and Glossophaga soricina (Lobo et al., 2003).
Fruiting
Fruit is produced from February to April.The fruit is a green, dry capsule with purple vertical lines and is 18 cm long and 9 cm wide (Gargiullo et al. 2008). It contains gray fibers called kapok and tiny seeds (Croat 1978). The capsule opens to release the seeds that are covered in the kapok.
It has winged seeds that are dispersed by wind. It releases its seeds when wind is strongest from March to May (Croat, 1978). Seed dry weight is 570 mg (Augsburger, 1984). The kapok that covers the seeds allows them to survive in water (Croat, 1978).
Besides its bat pollinators P. septenatum is an important resource for many animals. It is a dominant source of pollen for Megalopta. They fly hundreds of meters for these even when there are closer sources of pollen (Smith et al., 2012). It is also a host tree for the beetle Brentus anchorago (Johnson, 1983).
It also acts as a source of food for mammals. The endangered squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedii), consume its nectar and petals, destroying its flowers (Happel, 1983).
A study in Córdoba, Colombia found that P. septenatum was the main source of food for sloths possibly because the fragmented, dry forest in the area was dominated by P. septenatum.The sloths eat their flowers, leaves, and shoots, therefore, it acts as a constant food source throughout the year for the sloths (Ballesteros et al., 2009).
Its soft wood is used for plywood (Quesada-Quesada et al., 1997). But, it is not suitable for most construction (Devell et al., 1995). While it is a large tree, it is not recommended for regeneration because it has low stability except in soils with high organic matter and low aluminium (Butterfield 1996).
It has pharmaceutical potential for HIV and cancer chemoprevention (Calderon et al., 2000).
Pseudobombax septenatum is of the family Malvaceae, commonly known as Algodón de río, beldaco, ceibo barrigón, majagua colorada[1] or barrigon. It is a deciduous tree up to 80 feet (24 meters) in height which grows in semideciduous rainforest with a definite dry season. It is found from Nicaragua to Brazil. Its flowers are cream-colored and like those of Ceiba spp., in forming a roundish cluster of stamens on a stalk surrounding the pistel, in this instance up to one thousand stamens in number.[2] The leaves generally have seven smooth-edged narrowly oblong leaflets. It was originally named Pachira barrigon, and later Bombax barrigon. It has the bright green lines running through the bark that is also seen in Ceiba spp. and Chorissa spp.
It was first described in 1760 by the Dutch scientist Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin as Bombax septenatum.[3][4] The current name is from Armando Dugand in 1943.[1]
Pseudobombax septenatum is of the family Malvaceae, commonly known as Algodón de río, beldaco, ceibo barrigón, majagua colorada or barrigon. It is a deciduous tree up to 80 feet (24 meters) in height which grows in semideciduous rainforest with a definite dry season. It is found from Nicaragua to Brazil. Its flowers are cream-colored and like those of Ceiba spp., in forming a roundish cluster of stamens on a stalk surrounding the pistel, in this instance up to one thousand stamens in number. The leaves generally have seven smooth-edged narrowly oblong leaflets. It was originally named Pachira barrigon, and later Bombax barrigon. It has the bright green lines running through the bark that is also seen in Ceiba spp. and Chorissa spp.
It was first described in 1760 by the Dutch scientist Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin as Bombax septenatum. The current name is from Armando Dugand in 1943.
