I don't know if this is the proper place for this or not........
I saw this tree in Namibia. Weirdest tree I've ever seen. Looks like it has barnacles growing out of it. I accused the PH of glueing barnacles on it just to fool the tourist. The farm wife said her mother in law planted it years ago.
Has anyone else seen one of these? Does anyone know the name of it.

Looks like short thorns to me!

It is a chorisia speciosa or Floss Silk Tree. Very common here in Southern California. For more info go to http://mgonline.com/chorisia.html

Looks like my ex-girlfriends back - after she shaved a "3" on it.

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Any one who has been in the Amazon will have also seen Ceiba sp there, some really large specimens too.

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Thank you very much folks. I knew someone here would know what it was. I will email the farm lady and tell her the info.

Alf:
Where would I find info on the trees with the assigned numbers? Thanks.

Rancherjack is right. I have two of the trees in the yard.

quote:

Originally posted by ALF:
Kapok tree: afr = Kapok boom also Silky cotton tree
National list of introduced trees South Africa
# X 719

Introduced into Africa.

Part of the boabab family Bombaceacea with 3 genera:

1. Ceiba
2. Adansonia
3. Rhodognaphalon

Ceiba pentandra.

Very common as a ornamental tree in Southern Africa Namibia and Rhodesia

Close in resemblence to the Brazil kapok or floss silk tree - Chorisia speciosa

ALF,

Welcome to the club!
Walter has just added you to his very long list of what he calls "know it all", which, as far as he is concerned is lead by me

He said why couldn't you just call this tree by its true name, the "barnicle tree" instead of trying to blind him with sorts of scientific names!

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Thanks Alf, preciate that!

Alf spotted it before I saw the post but I'll second his identification...... I actually find the Palgraves book a bit difficult to use. - It would have been so much better if they had used some decent photographs instead of those lousy pencil scetches. I tend to use the field guides or the Audebron Society books to check on an identification.

I'll add a useless piece of information though. Up until the 1930s or 40s (ish), parts of the tree (inner bark, if I remember correctly) was used for lining lifejackets and flying suits etc.

The identification is correct. The tree in the photo is a male tree, the female tree have a lot less thorns. I have both in my garden. The fluff from the seed pods are used to make pillows as well.

Beware the poor sole who have to climb this tree if something with teeth, claws or hoofs is chasing him.

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Touche!