Isla Jicarita, Panama
Greeting us as we anchored off the island Jicarita, this quiet giant has been there for hundreds of years. We felt welcomed just with the presence of this impressive Kapok tree in the middle of the beach. The native indigenous peoples considered this species a sacred tree and a symbol of freedom and peace. For those still living in Central America it still represents freedom, peace and hope, for it’s one of the few trees that are respected by lumberjacks and still stands proudly in vast pastures.
The scientific name is derived from the local: Ceiba, that meant canoe in the native language, because it was frequently used to make dug-out canoes that were large and light-weight. As a far relative of cotton, the fruit consists of very thin fibers that carry the seeds away from the parent tree. Sometimes the fruit drops before it opens and instead of wind dispersal, they fall to the ground or into the water and float. That’s apparently how it reached the coast of Africa. It was introduced to Asia around the tenth century, where it is now found in plantations.
This large tree provides us with wood that is easy to carve. Its seeds were used to stuff pillows, mattresses and life jackets. Being a tree that grows above the regular canopy, it represents an important perch and nesting site for large birds of prey, such as eagles that can’t fly into the forest with their wide wings. The Kapok tree has inspired stories for children and adults of different cultures. It still amazes me when I find one and it turns into a spiritual experience to be able to share a planet with the giants.
This afternoon we spent cruising into the Gulf of Panama, and enjoyed sightings of Yellow-bellied Sea Snakes, as well as many Sea Turtles, including a rather amorous pair of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles!
Greeting us as we anchored off the island Jicarita, this quiet giant has been there for hundreds of years. We felt welcomed just with the presence of this impressive Kapok tree in the middle of the beach. The native indigenous peoples considered this species a sacred tree and a symbol of freedom and peace. For those still living in Central America it still represents freedom, peace and hope, for it’s one of the few trees that are respected by lumberjacks and still stands proudly in vast pastures.
The scientific name is derived from the local: Ceiba, that meant canoe in the native language, because it was frequently used to make dug-out canoes that were large and light-weight. As a far relative of cotton, the fruit consists of very thin fibers that carry the seeds away from the parent tree. Sometimes the fruit drops before it opens and instead of wind dispersal, they fall to the ground or into the water and float. That’s apparently how it reached the coast of Africa. It was introduced to Asia around the tenth century, where it is now found in plantations.
This large tree provides us with wood that is easy to carve. Its seeds were used to stuff pillows, mattresses and life jackets. Being a tree that grows above the regular canopy, it represents an important perch and nesting site for large birds of prey, such as eagles that can’t fly into the forest with their wide wings. The Kapok tree has inspired stories for children and adults of different cultures. It still amazes me when I find one and it turns into a spiritual experience to be able to share a planet with the giants.
This afternoon we spent cruising into the Gulf of Panama, and enjoyed sightings of Yellow-bellied Sea Snakes, as well as many Sea Turtles, including a rather amorous pair of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles!
