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elephant tree

Scientific Name: Bursera microphylla

Family: Burseraceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Tree, Shrub

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Elephant Tree (Bursera microphylla)

Bursera microphylla, commonly known as elephant tree in English and 'torote' in Spanish, is a distinctive plant found in specific regions of North America.

Considerations for Pets

  • This plant has small, rounded berries.
  • The plant exudes a spicy odor.

Considerations for Children

  • This plant has small, rounded berries.
  • The plant exudes a spicy odor.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Bursera microphylla
  • Common Names: Elephant Tree, Torote, Copal
  • Family: Burseraceae (Torchwood family)
  • Synonym: Sometimes confused with Pachycormus discolor due to similar common names, but Pachycormus discolor belongs to the ANACARDIACEAE (Sumac Family).

Distribution and Habitat

  • The elephant tree is primarily found in the Sonoran Desert.
  • It is rare in the United States, found in the Gila Range of Arizona.
  • It is more common in Northern Mexico.
  • It is the only species of its family in California.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Characterized by reddish-brown twigs.
  • Features pinnate leaves with minute, regularly arranged leaflets.
  • Has a thickened trunk and relatively small branching structure.
  • It's a shrub or small tree with a light-gray outer bark and slender zigzag twigs.

Quirky Facts

  • The cache is sometimes named after the tree's shape which (to some) resembles an elephant's head.