| Family: | Bombacaceae | | Genus: | Ceiba | | Species: | aesculifolia | | Authority: | (H.B. & K.) | | Common Name: | pochote | | Depictions: | Polychrome Ceramic | | Maya Plant Use: | Among the Maya, leaves and roots of this species were used for medicine, whereas the fiber was used for cloth and stuffing (Flannery 1982). | | Botanical Significance: | Ceiba aesculifolia is smaller in size, has larger trunk thorns and larger flowers, and has bronze and white colored flowers compared to C. pentandra, which has bronze and pink flowers. A possible depiction of C. aesculifolia has been identified on an incensario. Although the ceramic image is somewhat stylized, the petals curl back to reveal a second flower bud, which also has curled petals what appear to be stamens. This may represent the pochote flower or perhaps some other Bombacaceae. The recurved petals and overall flower structure are definitely indicative of the Bombacaceae. |
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