Bursera microphylla A. Gray
Elephant tree
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Rosidae Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order Sapindales Includes citrus; maples, horse-chestnuts, lychees and rambutans; mangos and cashews; frankincense and myrrh; mahogany and neem
Family Burseraceae The torchwood family, the frankincense and myrrh family, or simply the incense tree family—over 500 species of tropical trees and shrubs
Genus Bursera After botanist Joachim Burser (1583-1649)
Species microphylla “Small-leaved”
About plant names...
The elephant tree is native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. It is
related to frankincense and myrrh. Although endangered in the wild, it is popular as a bonsai
plant.
Identification: Small tree, 12-15′ (3.7-4.6 m) high. Foliage
has a pleasant odor reminiscent of orange and pine, leaves are pinnate . Young branches have a purple color,
changing to gray or white, and flaky and papery, as they grow.
By Glenn and Martha Vargas © California Academy of Sciences.
Pinnate leaves. By Miwasatoshi.
Online References:
Tom Chester’s Plant Species of the Borrego Desert
Botanyphoto.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca
George and Audrey DeLange's Arizona wildflower site
CalPhotos
The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Sonoran Desert Digital Library
Desert-tropicals.com
The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
Wikipedia
Bursera microphylla description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
2/17/2007 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
Male. · 2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
Male. · 2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
Range:
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