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Botanical Family · Sapindales

Burseraceae

Bursera Family

11 speciesOrder Sapindales8+ well-known plants

The Burseraceae family (Bursera Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Sapindales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 11 species across 5 genera. Its members are predominantly trees. Well-represented genera include Commiphora, Boswellia and Bursera. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include Indian Olibanum Tree, Mexican Linaloe Tree and Mexican Lavender.

Browse all 11 species ↓
Representative BURSERACEAE specimen
Representative specimen · Burseraceae
Key pattern

Compound, often aromatic leaves on trees whose bark oozes a fragrant resin when cut; small flowers ripen into a drupe that splits to reveal a stone coated in a thin fleshy layer.

Source of some of the world's oldest traded aromatic resins — frankincense and myrrh both come from bark tapped in this family, used in incense and perfumery for millennia.

Identify the species

Which Burseraceae species is this?

Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Burseraceae species.

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Leaf TypeIs the leaf a single blade, or divided into leaflets?
Bipinnately compound
Pinnately compound
Pinnately compound (leaflets in rows along a stalk)
Trifoliate
Trifoliate (three leaflets)
HabitWhat is the plant's growth habit?
Shrub
Tree

Typical leaf characters

Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.

Typical flower & fruit

  • Flower symmetryVariable
  • InflorescenceVariable
  • FruitDrupe

Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.

Notable members

Indian Olibanum Tree, Indian Frankincense, White DammerBoswellia serrataMexican Linaloe Tree, Tree Of Fragrance, Linaloe BerryBursera delpechianaMexican Lavender, Mexican LinaloeBursera penicillataBlack Dammar Tree, Black Dhup, Indian White MahoganyCanarium strictumJava AlmondCanarium vulgareIndian Balm Of GileadCommiphora berryiHill MangoCommiphora caudata var. caudataHill MangoCommiphora caudata var. pubescens

All 11 species in BURSERACEAE

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