Search Fact Sheets Virginia Tech Dendrology

copal Burseraceae Bursera hindsiana (Benth.) Engl. Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: --
Leaf: Alternate, simple, drought deciduous, serrate, to 2 inches, occasionally trifoliate, aromatic when crushed.
Flower: Small, inconspicuous, borne in late fall.
Fruit: Yellow to reddish brown, egg-shaped, 1/2 inch long, splitting into 3 pieces at maturity.
Twig: Resinous, moderate, reddish brown.
Bark: Tight and smooth, shiny reddish brown to gray-brown.
Form: A small wide-spreading tree, to 10 or 12 feet.
 Looks like: fragrant bursera - elephant tree - torote blanco

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Additional Range Information: Bursera hindsiana is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.

All material © 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information