Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn., Bombacaceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Threat only at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Low risk (based on second screen), score: 2 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

Austral: paina

Carolinian: arúghuschéll?

Chamorro: algidon, algodon de Manila, algodon di Manila, atgidon di Manila, atgodon di Manila

Chuukese: kkaton, kkóton, koton, poupou

English: kapok, kapok tree, silk-cotton tree

Fijian: semar, vauvau ni vavalangi

French: bois coton, capoc, fromager, kapokier

Kosraean: cutin, kuhtin

Maori (Cook Islands): mama‘u, mama‘u, mama‘u, tumu mama‘u, vavai

Marquesan: puatio, uruuru, uruuruvaikirita

Marshallese: bulik, kotin

Nauruan: duwoduwo

Niuean: vavae

Other: vavau ni lokoloko

Palauan: kalngebárd, kalngebard, kerrekar ngebard

Pohnpeian: cottin, koatoa, koatun

Samoan: vavae, vavae, vavae papalagi

Spanish: árbol capoc, ceiba, ceibo, pochote

Tahitian: komiro, pacae, vavai

Tongan: vavae

Yapese: batte ni gan‘ ken

Habit:  tree

Description:  "A large or immense tree, the trunk with gray bark, buttressed, usually spiny, cylindrical and smooth far up, deciduous; branches in horizontal tiers; crown of leaves open; leaves of 5-9 leaflets palmately borne, each lanceolate, acuminate, glaucous beneath, entire or obscurely toothed, 7-18 cm long, 1-3.5 cm wide, distinctly petiolulate; petiole 7-20 long; flowers clustered on branchlets, cream-white or pale pink; 5 petals about 2.5 cm long; stamens in 5 bundles, anthers twisted; fruit oblong-ellipsoid, smooth, pendulous, 7-15 cm long, 5-celled, eventually dehiscent, the interior filled with soft long copious hairs ("kapok" or silk-cotton); seeds many, brown" (Stone, 1970; p. 418).

Habitat/ecology:  "Grows well in a range of environments from savannah to forest, and although commercially grown on rich volcanic soils also tolerates poor soils. It requires a marked dry season and sheds its leaves during drought." (Swarbrick, 1997; p. 27). Commonly planted as a shade tree in towns and villages. In Fiji, "cultivated and rarely naturalized near sea level" (Smith, 1981; p. 413). In Tonga, "introduced and now occasional in villages and along roadsides" (Yuncker, 1959; p. 185). In Papua New Guinea, "a tree of the lowland and coastal regions rarely seen away from human settlement.  The leaves tend to fall as the drier season starts and the flowers mature; by the time new leaves are developing the fruit is reaching maturity"  (Henty, 1981; p. 11).  Moist uplands in the Galápagos Islands (McMullen, 1999; p. 46).

Propagation:  Seeds produced seasonally in pods and germinate quickly. "It is mainly pollinated by bats in Africa although insect pollination is also common, and the seeds are distributed by the wind" (Swarbrick, 1997; p. 27).

Native range:  Tropical America.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1925) (voucher ID: BISH 133946) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1939) (voucher ID: BISH 133943) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 33)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1920) (voucher ID: BISH 133945) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Agrigan (Agrihan) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Agrigan (Agrihan) Island	introduced cultivated	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 33) Voucher cited: Falanruw 2159 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Anatahan Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 47)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced cultivated	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 33) Voucher cited: Anderson 610 (US, BISH, Fo, NY, L)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1949) (voucher ID: BISH 133950) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane (2000) (p. 6) Some naturalization noted.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1966) (voucher ID: BISH 647171) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 133951) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 74)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 79)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 91)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 97)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 65)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 133938) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Floreana Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcan Sierra Negra	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Chuuk Islands		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1947) (voucher ID: BISH 133956) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Dublon (Tonowas) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Dublon (Tonowas) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1935) (voucher ID: BISH 133954) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Dublon (Tonowas) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1935) (voucher ID: BISH 133955) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Fefan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Namoluk (Nómwunuuk) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Namoluk (Nómwunuuk) Atoll		Marshall, Mae/Fosberg, F. R. (1975) (p. 39) Voucher cited: Marshall 24 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Tol Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 507496) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Waguk, Erick E. (2000) (p. 27)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (2005) (p. 17)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Nukuoro Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Nukuoro Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 133953) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Glassman, S. F. (1952) (p. 67)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (1998) (p. 17)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1948) (voucher ID: BISH 133957) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Rotuma Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1938) (voucher ID: BISH 618572) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Rotuma Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1991) (voucher ID: BISH 638043) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 413-414) Vouchers cited: DA 751, DA 12108 Rarely naturalized.
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Taravai Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Mopelia (Mapetia, Maupiha‘a, Maupihoa, Mopiha‘a) Atoll	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Mopelia (Mapetia, Maupiha‘a, Maupihoa, Mopiha‘a) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Sachet, M.-H. (1983) (p. 31)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 52) Vouchers cited: Moore 208, BRY 26633, BRY 26433
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1990) (voucher ID: BISH 642957) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 52) Voucher cited: Tilden 367
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Rangiroa (Rairoa) Atoll	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Takapoto Atoll	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Takapoto Atoll	introduced	Sachet, M-H. (1983) (p. 29)
French Polynesia Tubuai (Austral) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Tubuai (Austral) Islands	Rimatara (Rimitara) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Tubuai (Austral) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
French Polynesia Tubuai (Austral) Islands	Tubuai (Tupuai) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (pp. 175-177)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 418) Voucher cited: Stone 4005 (GUAM) Perhaps naturalized.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Jaluit (Jãlwõj) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Jaluit (Jãlwõj) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1962) (p. 26) Voucher cited: Fosberg 26760 (US)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Jaluit (Jãlwõj) Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 133949) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Arno Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Arno Atoll		Anderson, Donald (1951) (p. ii) Voucher cited: Anderson 3737
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Arno Atoll	introduced invasive	Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian (2007) (p. 6) "Not observed but told by informants that many trees are still present on Taklep Island and people will go there to harvest the fluffy seeds".
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Arno Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 133947) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Arno Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 133948) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Mejit (Mãjej) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 424174) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. (1994) (p. 106) Voucher cited: Fosberg 58642 (US) Some trees possibly spontaneous.
Nauru Nauru Island	Nauru Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1978) (voucher ID: BISH 438357) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 23) Vouchers cited: Guillaumin 8500, MacKee 23317, MacKee 29196, Gazeau in MacKee 43604
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 51) Voucher cited: CHR 170339
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 7)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 84) Voucher cited: Yuncker 10003 (BISH) "Occasional in villages".
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 13)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 84)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Kayangel (Ngcheangel) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 89) Cultivated?
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 79)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (1998) (p. 20)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1950) (voucher ID: BISH 133952) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Palau Palau (main island group)	Malakal Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 166)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Malakal Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 79)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago	introduced	Henty, E. E., ed. (1981) (pp. 11-13)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced	Henty, E. E., ed. (1981) (pp. 11-13)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 12)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1986) (voucher ID: BISH 608908) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1985) (voucher ID: BISH 608939) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 12)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1968) (voucher ID: BISH 28717) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1986) (voucher ID: BISH 608981) Taxon name on voucher: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 56)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced	Henty, E. E., ed. (1981) (pp. 11-13)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘ano Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 71)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka and Foa Islands	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 71)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	‘Uiha Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 71)
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands	introduced	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 185) "Occasional throughout the group".
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 59)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 51)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 65)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Costa Rica Costa Rica	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Ecuador (Mainland) Ecuador	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
El Salvador El Salvador	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Guatemala Guatemala	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Honduras Honduras	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Nicaragua Nicaragua	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (pp. 27, 108) Naturalized
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced	Stoddart, D. R./Taylor, J. D., eds. (1971) (p. 154) Voucher cited: Stoddart 896 (K)

Comments:  Does not seem to be particularly invasive in Micronesia, but trees seen scattered through the forests, particularly on Pohnpei.

Widely planted and somewhat naturalized in Samoa and Tonga.

Control: 

Chemical: Felling and treating the cut stump with glyphosate is effective (Swarbrick, 1997; p. 27).

Additional information:  Photo and additional information at the University of Guam "Plants of Guam" web site.
Information from the World Agroforestry Centre's AgroForestryTree Database.

Additional online information about Ceiba pentandra is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Taxonomic information about Ceiba pentandra may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Anderson, Donald. 1951. The plants of Arno Atoll, Marshall Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 7. Pacific Science Board, National Academy of Sciences, Washington. 4 pp. + 7 pp. appendix.

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1920. Voucher specimen #BISH 133945 (Setchell, W.A. 239).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1925. Voucher specimen #BISH 133946 (Garber, D.W. 1056).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1929. Voucher specimen #BISH 133938 (Wilder, G.P. 912).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1935. Voucher specimen #BISH 133954 (Takamatsu, M. 142).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1935. Voucher specimen #BISH 133955 (Takamatsu, M. 54).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1938. Voucher specimen #BISH 618572 (St.John, H. 19164).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1939. Voucher specimen #BISH 133943 (Yuncker, T.G. 9189).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 133949 (Fosberg, F.R. 26760).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 133951 (Fosberg, F.R. 24936).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 133953 (Fosberg, F.R. 26215).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1946. Voucher specimen #BISH 424174 (St.John, H. 21954).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1947. Voucher specimen #BISH 133956 (Wong, C.C.Y. 175).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1948. Voucher specimen #BISH 133957 (Wong, C.C.Y. 436).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1949. Voucher specimen #BISH 133950 (Anderson, D. 610).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 133947 (Stone, E.L. 1026).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 133948 (Anderson, D. 3737).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1950. Voucher specimen #BISH 133952 (Fosberg, F.R. 32337).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1966. Voucher specimen #BISH 647171 (Evans, M. 2048).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1968. Voucher specimen #BISH 28717 (Bristol, M.L. 2184).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1978. Voucher specimen #BISH 438357 (Fosberg, F.R. 58642).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 507496 (Grimm, G. 029).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1985. Voucher specimen #BISH 608939 (Cox, P.A. 865).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1986. Voucher specimen #BISH 608908 (Cox, P.A. 1005).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1986. Voucher specimen #BISH 608981 (Cox, P.A. 898).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1990. Voucher specimen #BISH 642957 (Florence 10510).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1991. Voucher specimen #BISH 638043 (McClatchey, W.C. 099).

Charles Darwin Research Station. 2005. CDRS Herbarium records.

EcoPort Foundation. 2006. EcoPort (on-line resource).

Falanruw, Marjorie C./Maka, Jean E./Cole, Thomas G./Whitesell, Craig D. 1990. Common and scientific names of trees and shrubs of Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall Islands. Pac. SW Forest and Range Expt. Stn. Resource Bulletin PSW-67. 91 pp.

Falanruw, Marjorie C./Maka, Jean E./Cole, Thomas G./Whitesell, Craig D. 1990. Unpublished database and supplement to: Common and scientific names of trees and shrubs of Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall Islands. Pac. SW Forest and Range Expt. Stn. Resource Bulletin PSW-67. 91 pp.

Florence, J. 2004. Flore de la Polynésie française, Vol. 2. Paris. IRE Editions, Publications Scientifiques, Collection Faune et Flore Tropicales 41. 503 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. 1975. Vascular flora of the northern Marianas Islands. Smithsonian Contrib. Bot. 22:1-45.

Fosberg, F. R./Otobed, D./Sachet, M.-H./Oliver, R. L./Powell, D. A./Canfield, J. E. 1980. Vascular plants of Palau with vernacular names. Department of Botany, The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 43 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. 1962. Vascular plants recorded from Jaluit Atoll. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 92. Pacific Science Board, National Academy of Sciences, Washington. 39 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1979. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian dicotyledonae. Micronesica 15:1-295.

Glassman, S. F. 1952. The flora of Ponape. Bishop Mus. Bull. 209: 1-152.

Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. 1988. Flora of the Solomon Islands. Research Bulletin No. 7. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Honiara. 203 pp.

Henty, E. E., ed. 1981. Handbooks of the flora of Papua New Guinea, vol. 2. Melbourne University Press, Melbourne. 276 pp.

Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim. 1998. Checklist of the plants of Palau. Unpublished checklist. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Hawai‘i. 40 pp.

Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim. 1998. Checklist of the plants of Pohnpei. Unpublished checklist. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Hawai‘i. 21 pp.

Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim. 2005. Checklist of the plants of Kosrae. Unpublished checklist. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Hawai‘i. 23 pp.

MacKee, H. S. 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 164 p.

Marshall, Mae/Fosberg, F. R. 1975. The natural history of Namoluk Atoll, eastern Caroline Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 189. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 53 pp + photos.

McCormack, Gerald. 2007. Cook Islands biodiversity and natural heritage. On-line database.

McMullen, C. K. 1999. Flowering plants of the Galápagos. Comstock Pub. Assoc., Ithaca, N.Y. 370 p.

Merlin, M./Juvik, J. 1996. Irá me neeniier nón Chuuk: Plants and their Environments in Chuuk. Program on Environment, East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, 121 pp. .

Raulerson, L. 2006. Checklist of Plants of the Mariana Islands. University of Guam Herbarium Contribution 40:1-69. .

Raulerson, L./Rinehart, A. 1991. Trees and shrubs of the northern Mariana Islands. Saipan: Coastal Resources Management Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 96950. 119 pp.

Sachet, M-H. 1983. Takapoto Atoll, Tuamotu Archipelago: terrestrial vegetation and flora. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 277. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 41 pp. + photos.

Sachet, M.-H. 1983. Natural history of Mopelia Atoll, Society Islands. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. Atoll Reserch Bulletin 274. 37 pp.

Smith, Albert C. 1981. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 2. 810 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2000. Observations on invasive plant species in American Samoa.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 51 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2000. Report to the Government of Niue on invasive plant species of environmental concern.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 34 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2001. Report to the Kingdom of Tonga on invasive plant species of environmental concern.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 78 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of the Cook Islands on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 146 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of Samoa on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 83 pp.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate. 2004. Report to the Government of Niue and the United Nations Development Programme: Invasive plant species on Niue following Cyclone Heta. UNDP NIU/98/G31 - Niue Enabling Activity. 80 pp.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane. 2000. Invasive plant species on Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 31 pp.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Waguk, Erick E. 2000. Invasive plant species on Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 43 pp.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar. 2003. Report to the Republic of Palau on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 174 pp.

Stoddart, D. R./Taylor, J. D., eds. 1971. Geography and ecology of Diego Garcia Atoll, Chagos Archipelago. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 149. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 237 pp.

Stone, Benjamin C. 1970. The flora of Guam. Micronesica 6:1-659.

Swarbrick, J. T. 1997. Environmental weeds and exotic plants on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean: a report to Parks Australia. 101 pp. plus appendix.

Sykes, W. R. 1970. Contributions to the flora of Niue. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 200, Wellington. 321 pp.

Thaman, R. R./Fosberg, F. R./Manner, H. I./Hassall, D. C. 1994. The flora of Nauru. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. Atoll Research Bulletin 392:1-223.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2007. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian. 2007. Arno plants [preliminary working listing of plant species]. Unpublished checklist, 13 pp.

Welsh, S. L. 1998. Flora Societensis: A summary revision of the flowering plants of the Society Islands. E.P.S. Inc., Orem, Utah. 420 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1984. Annotated list of Samoan plant names. Economic Botany 38:464.489.

Whistler, W. A. 1990. Ethnobotany of the Cook Islands: The plants, their Maori names, and their uses. Allertonia 5(4):347-424.

Wiggins, I. L./Porter, D. M. 1971. Flora of the Galapágos Islands. Stanford University Press. 998 pp.

Yuncker, T. G. 1943. The flora of Niue Island. Bishop Mus. Bull. 178. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 126 pp.

Yuncker, T. G. 1945. Plants of the Manua Islands. Bishop Mus. Bull. 184. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 73 pp.

Yuncker, T. G. 1959. Plants of Tonga. Bishop Museum Bull. 220. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 343 pp.