UCONN UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Plant Biodiversity Conservatory and Research Core

  • Collections
  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Outreach
  • Visiting
  • Staff
  • IPM Info
  • Support the Greenhouse

Accession Data:

Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg.

  • Common Name: Gumbo-Limbo, Tourist Tree
  • Family: Burseraceae Kunth

  • Country of Origin: Mexico - Chiapas/Oaxaca
  • Habitat: tropical subhumid forest

  • Uses: The wood historically was used to make carousel horses in the United States. Commonly used as a windbreak in coastal areas as it is viewed as hurricane resistant.

    WORLDWIDE ETHNOMEDICAL USES: Bahamas= for aches(back), debility, hunger, impotency, rashes, strains; as an aphrodisiac. Belize for colds, blood cleansing, fevers, flu, insect bites, measles, rashes, skin sores, sun stroke, sunburn, urinary tract infections. Dominican Republic for cystitis, intestinal problems, nephritis .Guatemala for aches(stomach), bite(snake), gangrene. Haiti as an antiseptic diuretic, insect repellant; for calculus, diarrhea, nephritis Sore, Vulnerary. Mexico for asthma, bite(snake), colic, dropsy, dysentery, enterorrhagia, fevers, stomachaches, swelling, venereal diseases, yellow fever; as an diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, laxative in effect">purgative. Peru as an analgesic, blood purifier, diaphoretic, expectorant, insecticide; for rheumatism. Venezuela for cancer(stomach), corns, debility, hernia, rheumatism. Elsewhere for aches(stomach), muscle fatigue, obesity, renitis, rheumatism, tumors, venereal diseases, wounds1

    • IMPORTANT NOTE: Plant Uses are for informational purposes only. EEB Greenhouses assume no responsibility for adverse effects from the use of any plants referred to on this site. Always seek advice from a professional before using any plant medicinally.
  • Culture: Prefers full sun, does not tolerate soggy feet.
  • USDA Zone: 10b-11

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 200700184
  • Source: Doug Goldman - Harvard
  • Accession Date: 09-26-2007
  • Bench: 1309 - NEOA: Ground Bed 1 SW
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 2 confirmed on 10-08-2024

Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Magnoliopsida
  • SubClass: eurosid II
  • Order: Sapindales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Burseraceae
  • SubFamily:
  • Tribe:
  • SubTribe:

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016

References (internal):

  • Medicinal Plants
  • Undefined Medicinal Plants
  • EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: Florida / Mexico Central / Mexico Northeast / Mexico Gulf / Mexican Pacific Is. / Mexico Northwest / Mexico Southwest / Mexico Southeast / Belize / Costa Rica / El Salvador / Guatemala / Honduras / Nicaragua / Panama / Bahamas / Cayman Is. / Cuba / Dominican Republic / Jamaica / Leeward Is. / Puerto Rico / Trinidad-Tobago / Windward Is. / Guyana / Venezuela / Colombia

References (external):

  1. The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs, Leslie Taylor, 2005. Website defunct. Last attempted access on Thursday, July 28, 2016.
  2. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Last accessed on Thursday, July 28, 2016.
  3. Bursera simaruba at USDA-GRIN. Last accessed on Thursday, July 28, 2016.

data regenerated on Thu, 26 Dec 2024 10:30:02 -0500 [bcm v4.0]

Images:

No default accession image assigned

Additional images for this accession:

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Current Accessions in the Burseraceae

  • Bursera fagaroides
  • Bursera hindsiana
  • Bursera microphylla
  • Bursera schlechtendalii
  • Bursera simaruba
  • Commiphora gileadensis
  • Commiphora sp.
W/C = Wild Collected
= indicates flowering in past 14 days
= images available for this accession
= map available for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days
  • © University of Connecticut
  • Disclaimers, Privacy & Copyright