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Ceiba speciosa ::
The floss silk tree is native to South America. The trunk is green in youth, but turns gray with age and is studded with thick sharp prickles whose origin is not well understood. The silk from the fruit has been used to stuff pillows, and during World War II, was used to stuff Navy life jackets. The silk cannot be spun into thread because, unlike cotton, the fibers are too short. The bark is also occasionally used to make rope.
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