 EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes
and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and
archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


 Cotton Trees

   August 28, 2020

    Menashe cottontree
   Photographer:  Menashe Davidson
   Summary Author: M enashe Davidson

   A  222fixtree222 s shown above, it’s easy to understand why this
   tree is called the cotton tree. Its scientific name is  Bombax
   malabaricum, though it’s also referred to as the  red silk cotton
   tree or  Kapok tree. Its fruits (pods) are brown oval capsules that
   when ripe contain seeds and white cotton-like fibers, a mix of
    lignin and  cellulose. Cotton trees produce several hundred of
   these 6 inch (15 cm) pods.

   These photos were taken in a park in Rishon LeZion, Israel, where the
   cotton tree is grown as an ornamental. When leafless, in February, its
   scented flowers are particularly fragrant. In  India, villagers
   gather the fruit and extract the cotton-like substance for filling
   pillows, sofas, etc. Photos taken May 29, 2020.
     * Rishon LeZion, Israel Coordinates:  31.9730, 34.7925

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Plant Links

     *  Discover Life
     *  Tree Encyclopedia
     *  What are Phytoplankton?
     *  Encyclopedia of Life - What is a Plant?
     *  USDA Plants Database
     *  University of Texas Native Plant Database
     *  Plants in Motion
     *  What Tree is It?

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   Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the  Universities
   Space Research Association.

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