This member of the Malvaceae family was given this name by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. Some of the later names is being used frequently, like DC's Bombax malabaricum and Schott & Endl'.s Salmalia malabarica. It is now found from Afghanistan to China, grown for it's cotton-like fruit-fill. It might originate from India. It will grow in a vide range of soil with some to lots of water and some to lots of sun. Fast growing, it can reach 30 meters with a one meter truck within 50 years, and I must confess; I can't really call it a caudiciform. The bright red flowers appears numerous in winter.
The genera name from Latin: bombyx; 'silk', referring to the fruits' inner. The specific epithet ceiba is clearly of American origin thus indicating the fact that Linnaeus was describing a New World taxon. Might just indicate it look like that genera? And yes, it is a skinny. Even as seedling, it seems.