Gumbo-limbo
Bursera simaruba

Family: Burseraceae

What it is like

A deciduous tree. It grows up to 18-25 m tall. It has a single trunk and deep taproot. The trunk is smooth and red. The wood is spongy and has resin. The limbs are thick and covered with a rusty red skin. This peels off in thin sheets. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk and are bright green. The leaflets are about 8 cm long. The flowers are creamy white and fairly showy. They are held in thin spreading panicles. The fruit are succulent red berries. They are 1.3 cm across. They are in clusters. The fruit are 3 angled. They are edible.

There are about 100 Bursera species. The wood has been used for incense. It has anticancer properties.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is native to tropical America. It usually grows along the coast close to the tidal limit. In Costa Rica it grows from sea level up to 1,100 m altitude. It grows in mangroves. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. At ECHO.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Central America (country/location of origin), Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico (country/location of origin), Nicaragua, North America, Panama, SE Asia, South America, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago, USA, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The leaves have been used to make tea.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed.

Its other names

Local names

Aceitero, Almaciga, Almacigo, Carana, Carano, Chaca, Chacah, Copon, Copperwood tree, Incense tree, Indio pelado, Jinote, Indio desnudo, Mararo, Pohon wisata, West Indian birch

Synonyms

Bursera bonairensis Bold.; Bursera gummifera L.; Bursera gummifera var. glabrata Griseb.; Bursera gummifera var. pubescens Engl.; Bursera integerrima (Tul.) Triana & Planch.; Bursera subpubescens (Rose) Engl.; Burseria gummifera (L.) Jacq.; Burseria gummifera (L.) L.; Elaphrium integerrimum Tul.; Elaphrium simaruba (L.) Rose; Elaphrium subpubescens Rose; Icicariba simaruba M.Gómez; Pistacia simaruba L.; Terebinthus simaruba (L.) W.Wight;