It was only recently that I learned that Oaxaca’s ubiquitous and beloved Ceiba tree was also known as the Kapok tree. Yikes, kapok was the stuff that stuffed the overstuffed furniture in my grandparents’ living room.
Those avocado-like pods (also known as pochote) contain a fluffy cotton-like fiber that is difficult to spin but is light and-water resistant — thus its use in mattresses, pillows, upholstery, stuffed animals, and life jackets. All hail and much respect to the “the mother tree of humankind.“
Mexican Peso Converter
View From Casita Colibrí 
Part of the “barrigon” family of trees…you can guess why….😺
Leslie, do tell!
We have Kapok trees in SoCal – beautiful flowers – but it’s rare to see many pods on them. Thanks for a very interesting blog!
Thanks Alana. I’m in La Mesa for the next 2 weeks and will look for them.
[…] Pochote pods on the previously blogged Kapok (aka, Ceiba) tree have […]