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Pseudobombax

Pseudobombax

9.9
A tropical small tree or shrub with large showy flowers and soft wood
  • noun
  • /ˌsuːdoʊˈbɑːmbæks/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Pseudobombax
  • The Pseudobombax ellipticum is admired for its striking white flowers.

Examples

  • Many species of Pseudobombax lose their leaves during the dry season.

  • Researchers studied the medicinal properties of Pseudobombax roots in the Amazon rainforest.

  • Look at that stunning Pseudobombax tree!

  • The Pseudobombax tree blooms beautifully in the spring.

  • The Pseudobombax tree blooms beautifully in the spring, attracting many pollinators.

  • Many species of Pseudobombax lose their leaves during the dry season to conserve water.

  • The Pseudobombax ellipticum is admired for its striking white flowers, which can reach up to ten inches in diameter.

Compounds

9.9

A tropical tree from Mexico and Central America with bright hairy pink flowers at branch ends before leaves appear

Surface Forms

Pseudobombax singular

Morphology

Pseudobombax = Bombax (semi-transparent) = pseudo + Bombax

The name is built from the productive prefix pseudo- plus the genus name Bombax, but the botanical reference is specialized and not likely to be inferred by many learners.

Etymology

Pseudobombax combines pseudo- ('false') and Bombax (the name for the silk-cotton or cotton tree), so it literally means 'false Bombax' and helps you remember this group of trees looks like Bombax trees but is a different kind, often with large showy flowers and soft wood.