A friend first clued me into this tree as a funny reference to the band, Porcupine Tree. Ceiba pentrandra, or commonly called Kapok Tree, Silk Tree or simply Ceiba, is an amazingly fascinating tree that is native to tropical climates of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, northern South America and the tropical western regions of Africa. It is also known as a sacred symbol in Mayan mythology and is known to them as the Tree of Life.

“The ancient Maya of Central America believed that a great Ceiba tree stood at the center of the earth, connecting the terrestrial world to the spirit-world above. The long thick vines hanging down from its spreading limbs provided a connection to the heavens for the souls that ascended them. Even today, these grand trees are regularly spared when forests are cut — it is a common event to see lone, isolated Ceiba trees proudly spreading their shady branches high above a pasture or agricultural field, a relict of the great forests that once were there.” via ceiba.org

images via anniewil, melepix