Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Ochroma pyramidale
Lumber
Ornamental
Product
English Common Name
Balsa Wood
Peru Common Name
Topa
Tree Family
Malvaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
24.5cm
Length
×
21.5cm
Width
Tree Height
Medium (20–35m)
Elevational Range (m)
350–2000m
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Peru
Native to
Region
Americas
Latin America
Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Venezuela
Coffee Agroforestry Information
Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Beneficial to coffee
Prevalence
Unknown
Cultivation
Planted
Natural
Tree Management
When the fruits open they form a cottony layer that looks like the "leg of a rabbit" and in which the seeds are wrapped. The seeds are dispersed mainly by the wind, but probably also by water, which is possible due to their floating fibers. The fruits are abundant, contain many small seeds (approx. 146 thousand per kg) and are collected with sticks just as they begin to open. You should let them open by exposing them to the sun and separating the cottony fiber from the seeds being careful not to breathe it. Soaking the seeds in water at room temperature for 24 hours supports germination (60%), which begins 8 days after sowing. Seeds stored at 20°C remain viable for more than 14 months. Growth in nursery is very fast. Seedlings can reach 25-30 cm in height in a time of 3 months. They require full light during their initial development and seeds need high temperatures to germinate. Under natural conditions, clearing forests exposes the soil to the sun and this triggers germination. In the nursery, seeds are sown in separate lines between 3 and 4 cm under a slight shade and in sterilized soil to prevent mold. Trees of this species partially drop their leaves for a very short period during the dry season. It is a fast-growing tree that prefers deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil in a sunny position. It prefers a pH in the range of 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 8. Highly sensitive to fire damage.
Tree Benefits and Uses
Farmer Uses
- Lumber
- Ornamental
- Product
Used in the construction of rafts, buoys, special packaging, models of airplanes and cars. They are used as an ornamental plant for their leaves and showy flowers. The cottony hairs of the fruit are used to make mattresses, life preservers and pillows. Balsa wood is the lightest commercial wood known, it has a wide range of applications, but it is probably best known as a material for making aircraft models.
Farm Services
- Coffee Shade
- Soil Improvement
Soil Improvement: it is a fast-growing tree and used to rehabilitate degraded soils
Biodiversity Benefits
Yes
White-faced monkeys have been seen during the day poking their faces out on the flower, possibly looking for insects, and their faces are generously covered with pollen. The flowers can be visited by nocturnal mammals. Birds often cut holes near the base of flowers to get nectar.
Citations
Citations
Plants of the World Online POWO (2022). "Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org;
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (2022). Published on the Internet: https://panamabiota.org/stri/taxa/index.php?taxon=Ochroma+pyramidale&formsubmit=Search+Terms;
Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2022-07-13. tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Ochroma+pyramidale;
Román, Francisco, et al. Guía para la propagación de 120 especies de árboles nativos de Panamá y el neotrópico. 2012.;
Mendoza, A. L. M., & Guerrero, M. H. (2010). Catálogo de los árboles y afines de la Selva Central del Perú. Arnaldoa, 17, 203-242.