Ceiba Speciosa

Today the weather was distinctly Autumn like and the Valencianos have certainly dressed in jackets and jumpers. We took another stroll through the city wandering about and and inevitably stumbled across Turia park. I have always wondered what the strange looking trees were which have a peculiar shape and after a bit of digging around on the web, discovered they were called Ceiba Speciosa. They are native to South America and are also known as wool trees (see below) or bottle trees on account of their shape.
They are deciduous tree that can reach more than 25m in height. The trunk, which is widened in its lower third, acts as a water reserve in times of drought, it is covered by thick thorns that serve as protection, and in which the fur of the animals is usually hooked, so it receives the named after "wool tree". In young specimens, the trunk is green due to its high chlorophyll content, capable of photosynthesis when the leaves are missing, but in which grayish cracks form over time. 
The extra today is Mrs P next to an image by her favourite street artist.