Bursera simaruba (Linnaeus) Sargent, Burseraceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk; score: 7 (Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment for Bursera simaruba)

Other Latin names:  Elaphrium simaruba (L.) Rose; Pistacia simaruba L.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Mexican white beach, West Indian birch, gum tree, gumbo limbo, incense tree, turpentine tree

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Form: Medium-sized, spreading, aromatic, deciduous tree, to about 20 m in height, with distinctive, smooth, copper-colored, resinous bark that has the aroma of turpentine and flakes off in strips to reveal a greenish brown underlayer.
Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound, 15 - 20 cm long, 10 - 15 cm wide; leaflets three to nine in number, short stalked, entire, ovate to oblong, 6 - 7.5 cm long, 2 - 5 cm wide, shiny green above, paler below.
Flowers: Tiny, borne in elongated, terminal clusters that are 5 - 15 cm long, appearing in spring.
Fruit: Drupelike, slightly three-angled and diamond shaped, pointed at both ends, to about 1.5 cm long and 1 cm wide, arising in fall and winter.
Distinguishing marks: Most easily recognized by combination of shiny, copper-colored bark and compound leaves." (The trees of Florida, p. 154)

Habitat/ecology:  In Florida, "Coastal and tropical hammocks. . . ." (The trees of Florida, p. 154)

Ecology: "Generally found in dry forests, but sometimes in wetter forests; common in advanced secondary growth." Biophysical limits: "Altitude: 0-1000 m, Mean annual temperature: 18-25 deg. C, Mean annual rainfall: 800-3000 mm" Soil type: "Grows on diverse soils, for example Lithosols, Vertisols and Oxisols." (World Agroforestry)

Propagation:  Seed; asexually by cuttings. (World Agroforestry)

Native range:  Florida (USA); Mexico; Caribbean; Central America; Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia (South America) (GRIN)

Native range: "Belize, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, United States of America" (World Agroforestry)

Impacts and invaded habitats:  Invaded habitats or negative impacts of this species not currently known by PIER. If you know of invaded habitats or impacts, please let us know.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced cultivated	Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim (year unknown) see http://starrenvironmental.com/images/image/?q=41326475852 etc., accessed 20180916
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Central America	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180916
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	introduced	World Agroforestry (2009) accessed 20180916
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native cultivated	World Agroforestry (year unknown) accessed 20180916; cultivated, but specific location(s) not indicated: "Shade or shelter: Planted as a shade tree on streets and beaches.... Used as living fence to delimit pastures...."
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native cultivated	World Agroforestry (year unknown) accessed 20180916; cultivated, but specific location(s) not indicated: "Shade or shelter: Planted as a shade tree on streets and beaches.... Used as living fence to delimit pastures...."
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native cultivated	World Agroforestry (year unknown) accessed 20180916; cultivated, but specific location(s) not indicated: "Shade or shelter: Planted as a shade tree on streets and beaches.... Used as living fence to delimit pastures...."
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native cultivated	World Agroforestry (year unknown) accessed 20180916; cultivated, but specific location(s) not indicated: "Shade or shelter: Planted as a shade tree on streets and beaches.... Used as living fence to delimit pastures...."
Central America Central America (non-Pacific rim)	Belize	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180916
Central America Central America (non-Pacific rim)	Belize	native cultivated	World Agroforestry (year unknown) accessed 20180916; cultivated, but specific location(s) not indicated: "Shade or shelter: Planted as a shade tree on streets and beaches.... Used as living fence to delimit pastures...."
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180916
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native cultivated	World Agroforestry (year unknown) accessed 20180916; cultivated, but specific location(s) not indicated: "Shade or shelter: Planted as a shade tree on streets and beaches.... Used as living fence to delimit pastures...."
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180916
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native cultivated	World Agroforestry (year unknown) accessed 20180916; cultivated, but specific location(s) not indicated: "Shade or shelter: Planted as a shade tree on streets and beaches.... Used as living fence to delimit pastures...."

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Caribbean Islands Caribbean Islands	Caribbean Islands	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180916
Caribbean Islands Caribbean Islands	Cuba	native cultivated	World Agroforestry (year unknown) accessed 20180916; cultivated, but specific location(s) not indicated: "Shade or shelter: Planted as a shade tree on streets and beaches.... Used as living fence to delimit pastures...."
Caribbean Islands Caribbean Islands	Dominican Republic	native cultivated	World Agroforestry (year unknown) accessed 20180916; cultivated, but specific location(s) not indicated: "Shade or shelter: Planted as a shade tree on streets and beaches.... Used as living fence to delimit pastures...."
Caribbean Islands Caribbean Islands	Puerto Rico		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Caribbean Islands Caribbean Islands	Puerto Rico	native cultivated	World Agroforestry (year unknown) accessed 20180916; cultivated, but specific location(s) not indicated: "Shade or shelter: Planted as a shade tree on streets and beaches.... Used as living fence to delimit pastures...."
Jamaica Jamaica	Jamaica (country)	native cultivated	World Agroforestry (year unknown) accessed 20180916; cultivated, but specific location(s) not indicated: "Shade or shelter: Planted as a shade tree on streets and beaches.... Used as living fence to delimit pastures...."
South America (non-Pacific rim) South America (non-Pacific rim)	Guyana	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180916
United States of America United States	United States	native cultivated	World Agroforestry (year unknown) accessed 20180916; cultivated, but specific location(s) not indicated: "Shade or shelter: Planted as a shade tree on streets and beaches.... Used as living fence to delimit pastures...."
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180916
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	cultivated	Nelson, Gil (1994) (p. 154) "Distribution: Coastal and tropical hammocks from Pinellas and Brevard counties southward; most common in the lower peninsual and Keys; often a conspicuous ornamental along roads, turnpikes, and interstate highways of the southern tip of the peninsula."
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	native cultivated	World Agroforestry (year unknown) accessed 20180916; cultivated in southern Florida: "Ornamental: Because of the attractive coloured bark, the tree is planted as an ornamental in dry soils of southern Florida, where it is native."; cultivated, but specific location(s) not indicated: "Shade or shelter: Planted as a shade tree on streets and beaches.... Used as living fence to delimit pastures...."
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	cultivated	Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim (year unknown) see http://starrenvironmental.com/images/image/?q=24606756799 etc., accessed 20180916
Venezuela Venezuela	Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)	native	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) accessed 20180916

Comments:  used/recommended as live fence posts in Pacific islands (Agroforestry Guides for Pacific Islands, p. 130)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Bursera simaruba, please let us know.