Kapok

Kapok is a tropical tree, native to South America. The word is also used for the fibre obtained from it's seeds.

The floss is light, resilient, and resistant to water. It is used as a filling for bedding and upholstery, and for insulation.

The seeds also produce an oil, used in soap, and can be used as fertilizer.

The commercial tree is Ceiba pentandra and is cultivated in Malaysia, the Phillipines and Africa as well as its native continent.