As columnar cacti are much less interesting for cactus lowers, tree-like xerophyte are also not well-known. There are numerous stem succulent plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae), especially in the Bombacoideae subfamily, including baobab and kapok trees. Xerophyte species are found in the genera Adansonia, Ceiba, Bombax and Pseudobombax. The genus Ceiba, sensu lato, is widespread on the tropical areas of the Earth. There are shrub-like taxa as well as giant trees of tropical forests. These trees played important roles in the belief of several pre-Columbian cultures. Nevertheless, Ceiba trees are not only found on wet, but on dry areas as well, such as in the deciduous shrub vegetation of the large Mexican deserts. Ceiba acuminata has large, white flowers with five petals open during the night time in May and June. The flowers are often pollinated by bats. Ceiba (Chorisia) speciosa, originates from the South-American pampas, is also a strong xerophyte, the bottle-like trunk of which is covered by thorns. If water is not limits its growth, in can reach a height of 25 m, but usually rarely branches under 2 m in the nature.
