Identify this Argentine tree

June 8, 2006 7:33 PM

Arboreal filter: What are the trees in Buenos Aires with the bulbous trunks that have big thorns on them starting about 6 feet up the trunk. They have big pink flowers almost like a lilly and we saw some large green seed pods which 'exploded' into big tufts of 'cotton wool'

Sorry, no pictures yet but I have noticed that MeFites don't back away from a challenge easily...

posted by itsjustanalias to science & nature (6 comments total)

Is it Chorisia speciosa? Also called Floss Silk Tree.
posted by iconomy at 8:05 PM on June 8, 2006

that's what I was going to say...
posted by pmbuko at 8:09 PM on June 8, 2006

aka kapok tree
posted by hortense at 11:55 PM on June 8, 2006

I'd see similar thorns on trees in LA and wondered if it was some kind of disease or parasite causing them.
posted by Rash at 8:45 AM on June 9, 2006

In case you're interested, locals refer to it as "el palo borracho," or "the drunk stick/wood."
posted by donpedro at 9:35 AM on June 9, 2006

Chorisia speciosa, ey? And this whole time I thought chorizos were made from meat.
posted by redteam at 12:27 AM on June 29, 2006