Unusual tree.....

Chorisia speciosa - or silk floss tree is an unusual tree that I have run into up here in Altos del Maria. In Spanish it is known as palo borracho, arbol botella or arbol de la lana. It's blooms are beautiful pink flowers. The things that look like sticks are capsules that hold extemely small black seeds inside that are surrounded by a "cotton" that aids in propagation by flying through the air. You can see below a more close up photo of this capsule. You can take it apart and you will see all the millions of tiny seeds inside. Many villagers up here in the mountains use the "cotton" like material to stuff their pillows. If you look closely you can see the tiny seeds on the photo below right.