Balsa -The unbearable lightness of being-

Botanical name: Ochroma pyramidale (Bombacaceae)

THE MIRACLE OF GROWTH GIVES PROTECTION IN EARTH, AIR AND WATER

Balsa is one of the most extraordinary trees of Tropical America. Growing unbelievably fast, Balsa is possibly the fastest-growing tree in the world. Balsa can reach 4 m (13 ft) in height when six month old. During the first years, the yearly growth can be up to 8 m (26 ft)! Balsa can grow up to 30 m (98 ft) tall and achieve a 1 m (3.3 ft) diameter trunk. The trunk is straight and cylindrical. Balsa prevents and controls erosion, thus being an ecologically important tree. Growing faster than most of the other trees, Balsa brings shade for trees not withstanding direct sunlight.

….AND BRINGS JOY TO SKILLED HANDS

The wood of Balsa is soft and very light. The Spanish name balsa means a raft, the name being derived from Balsa’s incredible floating capabilities. The wood is used to make boats, floats and life jackets. Balsa is also an excellent material when building model planes.

THE FLOWERS’ NECTAR NOURISHES ANIMALS; THE FRUITS GIVE A CALMING, RESTING PLACE FOR MAN

Being an evergreen tree, Balsa doesn’t even shed its leaves in the dry season. Balsa can be seen blooming from November to March. The flowers contain lots of water and delicious nectar and are a treat for monkeys, sloths, bats, opossums and other rainforest mammals. The fruits ripen between June and July, containing seeds inside of a cotton-like, brown material that’s commonly known as kapok. Balsa itself is a part of the kapok tree family, also known as the silk cotton family. This feathery, soft and water-resistant, natural material is traditionally used as stuffing in pillows and mattresses.