Pseudobombax ellipticum
shaving-brush tree
Mexico to Guatemala
The green bark of this tree is similar to that of the nearby Ceiba speciosa, but without the spikes. The tree, named for its showy 6-inch-long flowers with many 4-inch stamens, can grow to 30 feet in the wild but is shorter in cultivation. In 2003, a tree was planted at the edge of the Arizona Garden, on the side closest to Palm Drive. It was removed at some point before 2017.
About this Entry: The main text of this entry is from the book Trees of Stanford and Environs, by Ronald Bracewell, published 2005. Family updated from Bombacaceae to Malvaceae (Jan 2018, SP). Removal noted (Jul 2024, SP).