Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
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Family
Burseraceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Deciduous tree or shrub to 15 m, and 30 cm diam.; bark reddish, smooth, peeling in large, thin flakes; resin sometimes accumulating at base of trunk. Leaves 5-9-foliolate; leaflets opposite, 3-7 x 1.5-4.5 cm, ovate, oblong, lanceolate, or elliptic, chartaceous, glabrous, the apex long-acuminate, the base rounded or obtuse, usually unequal, the margins entire; petiolules 5-10 mm long; petioles longer than the leaflets. Flowers unisexual (pistillate appearing as bisexual) in axillary racemes, at ends of branches; calyx ca. 2 mm long, sepals 5, minute, triangular; petals 5, white, 3.5-4 mm long, lanceolate and reflexed; nectary disk annular; stamens 10, the anthers lanceolate; ovary conical, of 3 carpels, each carpel with 2 ovules, the stigmas 3, sessile. Drupe ellipsoid-trigonous, 1-1.2 cm long, turning from green to reddish, with resinous aroma. Pyrenes 1-seeded, trigonous, beige.
Distribution and Ecology - A common tree of dry forested hills. Susannaberg (A840, A1861). Also on Jost van Dyke, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; throughout the Caribbean, also Florida, and Mexico to South America.
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Discussion
Common names: cachibou, gommier, gumbo limbo, naked indian, red belly tree, takantin, tourist tree