Ceiba pentandra L. Gaertn. (Malvaceae) and associated species: Spiritual Keystone Species of the Neotropics

Among the 18 species included in the Ceiba genus, in the Malvaceae (Bombacoideae) family, Ceiba pentandra L. Gaertn. is not only the tallest and most widespread, but also occupies the most prominent place in Neotropical cosmovisions. In this ethnobotanical review, we compare perceptions and uses of Ceiba and related species across indigenous and Afro-descendant cultures ranging from the Caribbean to the Argentinian Chaco. Ceiba's widely-shared role as axis mundi, (particularly in Amazonia) psychopomp and shelter of major forest spirits makes it a perfect example of a Spiritual Keystone Species, a new concept inspired from Cultural Keystone Species and defined here for the first time.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author