I imagine any of you who have visited the Rainforest have seen the large tree with all of the large spikes on the trunk and branches.  This tree serves as a excellent conversation piece as many of our visitors are curious about it.

Everyone wants to know what it is and when we tell them its called a Floss Silk Tree (Ceiba insignis) we are often greeted with blank stares or confused looks.

Most likely this tree gets its name from the fruit, which eventually kind of explodes into a large cotton ball.  This is less surprising when you learn this tree is in the cotton family (Malvaceae).

I bring this to your attention now because in the 11-plus years the Butterfly Rainforest has been open, our Floss Silk Tree has not produced fruit.  We as a staff had come to believe that our specimen was in fact a sterile hybrid.  Until now.  If you visit the exhibit and look up at our otherwise barren looking tree you will see our first (and lone) fruit!

We at the Butterfly Rainforest are now on “Fruit Watch” awaiting the moment when the silk bursts from the fruit and we can finally show people why it is called the Floss Silk Tree.