A fine, cotton-like fibre that grows in the seed pods of the Kapok tree, the Ceiba pentandra (also known as silk-cotton, or Java cotton), which grows in West Africa, Central Caribbean, Central and South America, China and the Far East. The fibre is light, buoyant, resilient and water resistant. It has a soft, down-like quality; rather than fibre that can be spun into yarn, so kapok is used for stuffing cushion inners, pillows, and mattresses, for insulation and is a favourite filler for soft toys.

The oil pressed from the seeds is used for soap and in fertiliser.

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