The Silk-Cotton Tree is a large tropical tree that is native to Central and South America. It is also known by its scientific name, Ceiba pentandra, and by its common names, KAPOK and Java Cotton. The tree is valued for its strong, lightweight wood and for its fluffy seed pods, which are used to make KAPOK fiber. The tree can grow up to 60 meters tall and has a wide, spreading canopy. Its bark is smooth and gray, and its leaves are large and glossy. The Silk-Cotton Tree is an important source of food and shelter for many species of birds, mammals, and insects.