Burseraceae Kunth
  • Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris) 2: 346. 1824. (Jul 1824) 


Cite taxon page as 'WFO (2025): Burseraceae Kunth. Published on the Internet;http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-7000000092. Accessed on: 04 Jun 2025'

Local Descriptions

Order descriptions by:

General Information

Trees or shrubs, resiniferous. Leaves alternate or rarely opposite, odd-pinnate, 3-foliolate (or rarely 1-foliolate), stipulate or exstipulate. Inflorescence racemose or paniculate. Flowers regular, small, unisexual or bisexual, often polygamous. Calyx 3-6-lobed, imbricate or valvate. Petals 3-6, free or rarely connate, imbricate or valvate. Disk annular or cupular, usually conspicuous. Stamens as many as or 2 × as many as petals, inserted at base or margin of disk, equal or unequal; filaments free, rarely connate at base; anthers dorsifixed or rarely adnate, 2-thecate, dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary superior, usually 2-5-celled; ovules 2 or rarely 1 in each cell, usually anatropous, axile, pendulous or rarely ascending, micropyle superior, raphe adaxial; style simple; stigma undivided or 2-5-lobed. Fruit drupaceous, indehiscent, containing 2-5 pyrenes, or rarely pseudocapsular and dehiscent. Seeds solitary, exalbuminous; testa membranous; cotyledons usually membranous, contortuplicate, rarely fleshy and planoconvex; radicle superior.

  • Provided by: [E].Flora of China @ efloras.org
    • Source: [
    • 3
    • ]. 

    Morphology

    Arbres'ou arbustes quelquefois épineux; canaux de l'écorce résinifères.'Feuilles'alternes, rarement opposées, stipulées ou non, composées imparipennées, rarement simples ou unifoliolées, glandulaires.'Inflorescences'en panicules, racèmes ou corymbes; fleurs unisexuées ou polygames, rarement hermaphrodites, actinomorphes.'Fleurs'♂ à calice 3-5-lobé; pétales 3-5, imbriqués ou valvaires, rarement absents, libres ou soudés en tube; étamines obstémones ou obdiplostémones, rarement plus nombreuses, libres; disque présent ou absent; anthères 2- loculaires ; thèques à déhiscence longitudinale.'Fleurs'♀ à sépales et pétales ± semblables à ceux des fleurs ♂; ovaire 1-5-loculaire, généralement lobé, quelquefois ovaire apocarpe; ovules 1-2 ou plus par loge.'Fruits'drupacés, indéhiscents, quelquefois samaroïdes.'Graines droites ou courbes, avec ou sans endosperme; cotylédons composés, lobés ou entiers, condupliqués, plissés ou aplatis.\n\t\t\tSeize genres et environ 550 espèces, dans les régions tropicales et subtropicales. Six genres connus en Afrique totalisant environ 190 espèces, le genre'Commiphora Jacq. comptant à lui seul 132 espèces. Au Congo belge, 4 genres, 10 espèces.

  • Provided by: [F].Flore d'Afrique Centrale
    • Source: [
    • 9
    • ]. 

    Ovary superior, 2–5-locular; ovules (1) 2 in each loculus, axile Fruit a drupe (the exocarp sometimes tardily splitting into 2–4-valves) Disk present (or sometimes apparently absent), often lobed Stamens twice as many as the petals or of equal number (outside our area); filaments free or slightly connate at the base; anthers 2-thecous, opening longitudinally Seeds without endosperm; cotyledons usually contorted, palmatilobed or conduplicate Trees or shrubs, usually secreting resin or oil Leaves alternate, rarely opposite, bipinnate (but not in our area) or imparipinnate or 3-foliolate or 1-foliolate or very rarely simple; leaflet margins entire or variously serrate; stipules absent Calyx 3–5-lobed, lobes imbricate or valvate Flowers unisexual or more rarely bisexual Petals 3–5 (rarely absent), free (or variously connate outside our area)

  • Provided by: [A].Flora Zambesiaca - descriptions
    • Sepals 3–5, imbricate or valvate Flowers hermaphrodite or often unisexual, small Ovary superior, 2–8-celled; ovules 2 or 1 in each cell, axile Stamens the same or double the number of the petals; filaments free; anthers 2-celled, opening by slits Disk present Petals 3–5, rarely absent, free or variously connate, imbricate or valvate Seeds without endosperm; cotyledons often contortuplicate Fruit a drupe or rarely a capsule Trees or shrubs, secreting resin or oil Leaves alternate, rarely opposite, pinnate, rarely 1-foliolate; stipules absent

    • Provided by: [C].Flora of West Tropical Africa - species descriptions
      • Source: [
      • 1
      • ]. 

      Trees or shrubs, rarely subscandent, usually secreting resin or oil but without pellucid gland-dots in the leaves; the outer bark often peeling off in flakes, scrolls, strips or sheets, usually translucent, transmitting light to the green or bluish green under-bark Flowers rather small, regular, bisexual or imperfectly unisexual and dioecious, in panicles, corymbs, racemes, cymes or fascicles, or solitary Leaves spirally arranged, usually without stipules, imparipinnate, 1–3-foliolate or occasionally simple, rarely bipinnate in America Petals (0–)3–5(–6), valvate or imbricate, almost always free Receptacle saucer-shaped or cupular; calyx, ± divided into 3–5(–6) usually valvate lobes Ovary superior, 2–5(6–8)-locular, with 2 ovules pendent from the apex of each locule Stamens placed outside or on the margin of a disc, (3–5)–6, 8 or 10(–12), usually twice as many as the petals and in 2 whorls Fruit a 1–5-seeded drupe or pseudocapsule

    • Provided by: [B].Plants Of the World Online Portal - FTEA
      • Source: [
      • 2
      • ]. 

      Les feuilles sont composées imparipennées, non stipulées, souvent groupées aux extrémités de gros rameaux. Les folioles se ressemblent beaucoup par le type de la nervation. Les nervures latérales sont bien marquées et réunies en arceaux nets près de la marge. Les Dacryodes sont remarquables par la présence de poils étoilés sur les fleurs et le plus souvent aussi sur les feuilles. Les autres genres ne montrent que des poils simples. Fleurs hermaphrodites (Aucoumea), ou unisexuées (Canarium, Dacryodes, Santiria), du type 3 ou 5. Présence d'un disque infrastaminal (Canarium, Dacryodes, Santiria), extrastaminal et réduit à des sortes de glandes (Aucoumea). Ovaire à 2-3 ou 5 loges biovulées. Fruits drupacés sauf ceux d'Aucoumea qui sont capsulaires. Cotylédons profondément laciniés (Dacryodes, Canarium).

    • Provided by: [D].Flore du Gabon
      • Source: [
      • 8
      • ]. 
      Flore du GabonMorphology

      Les feuilles sont composées imparipennées, non stipulées, souvent groupées aux extrémités de gros rameaux. Les folioles se ressemblent beaucoup par le type de la nervation. Les nervures latérales sont bien marquées et réunies en arceaux nets près de la marge. Les Dacryodes sont remarquables par la présence de poils étoilés sur les fleurs et le plus souvent aussi sur les feuilles. Les autres genres ne montrent que des poils simples. Fleurs hermaphrodites (Aucoumea), ou unisexuées (Canarium, Dacryodes, Santiria), du type 3 ou 5. Présence d'un disque infrastaminal (Canarium, Dacryodes, Santiria), extrastaminal et réduit à des sortes de glandes (Aucoumea). Ovaire à 2-3 ou 5 loges biovulées. Fruits drupacés sauf ceux d'Aucoumea qui sont capsulaires. Cotylédons profondément laciniés (Dacryodes, Canarium).

      Flore d'Afrique CentraleMorphology

      Arbres'ou arbustes quelquefois épineux; canaux de l'écorce résinifères.'Feuilles'alternes, rarement opposées, stipulées ou non, composées imparipennées, rarement simples ou unifoliolées, glandulaires.'Inflorescences'en panicules, racèmes ou corymbes; fleurs unisexuées ou polygames, rarement hermaphrodites, actinomorphes.'Fleurs'♂ à calice 3-5-lobé; pétales 3-5, imbriqués ou valvaires, rarement absents, libres ou soudés en tube; étamines obstémones ou obdiplostémones, rarement plus nombreuses, libres; disque présent ou absent; anthères 2- loculaires ; thèques à déhiscence longitudinale.'Fleurs'♀ à sépales et pétales ± semblables à ceux des fleurs ♂; ovaire 1-5-loculaire, généralement lobé, quelquefois ovaire apocarpe; ovules 1-2 ou plus par loge.'Fruits'drupacés, indéhiscents, quelquefois samaroïdes.'Graines droites ou courbes, avec ou sans endosperme; cotylédons composés, lobés ou entiers, condupliqués, plissés ou aplatis.\n\t\t\tSeize genres et environ 550 espèces, dans les régions tropicales et subtropicales. Six genres connus en Afrique totalisant environ 190 espèces, le genre'Commiphora Jacq. comptant à lui seul 132 espèces. Au Congo belge, 4 genres, 10 espèces.

      Flora of West Tropical Africa - species descriptionsMorphology

      Sepals 3–5, imbricate or valvate Flowers hermaphrodite or often unisexual, small Ovary superior, 2–8-celled; ovules 2 or 1 in each cell, axile Stamens the same or double the number of the petals; filaments free; anthers 2-celled, opening by slits Disk present Petals 3–5, rarely absent, free or variously connate, imbricate or valvate Seeds without endosperm; cotyledons often contortuplicate Fruit a drupe or rarely a capsule Trees or shrubs, secreting resin or oil Leaves alternate, rarely opposite, pinnate, rarely 1-foliolate; stipules absent Flowers hermaphrodite or often unisexual, small Ovary superior, 2–8-celled; ovules 2 or 1 in each cell, axile Stamens the same or double the number of the petals; filaments free; anthers 2-celled, opening by slits Disk present Petals 3–5, rarely absent, free or variously connate, imbricate or valvate Seeds without endosperm; cotyledons often contortuplicate Fruit a drupe or rarely a capsule Trees or shrubs, secreting resin or oil Leaves alternate, rarely opposite, pinnate, rarely 1-foliolate; stipules absent

      Flora Zambesiaca - descriptionsMorphology

      Ovary superior, 2–5-locular; ovules (1) 2 in each loculus, axile Fruit a drupe (the exocarp sometimes tardily splitting into 2–4-valves) Disk present (or sometimes apparently absent), often lobed Stamens twice as many as the petals or of equal number (outside our area); filaments free or slightly connate at the base; anthers 2-thecous, opening longitudinally Seeds without endosperm; cotyledons usually contorted, palmatilobed or conduplicate Trees or shrubs, usually secreting resin or oil Leaves alternate, rarely opposite, bipinnate (but not in our area) or imparipinnate or 3-foliolate or 1-foliolate or very rarely simple; leaflet margins entire or variously serrate; stipules absent Calyx 3–5-lobed, lobes imbricate or valvate Flowers unisexual or more rarely bisexual Petals 3–5 (rarely absent), free (or variously connate outside our area) Fruit a drupe (the exocarp sometimes tardily splitting into 2–4-valves) Disk present (or sometimes apparently absent), often lobed Stamens twice as many as the petals or of equal number (outside our area); filaments free or slightly connate at the base; anthers 2-thecous, opening longitudinally Seeds without endosperm; cotyledons usually contorted, palmatilobed or conduplicate Trees or shrubs, usually secreting resin or oil Leaves alternate, rarely opposite, bipinnate (but not in our area) or imparipinnate or 3-foliolate or 1-foliolate or very rarely simple; leaflet margins entire or variously serrate; stipules absent Calyx 3–5-lobed, lobes imbricate or valvate Flowers unisexual or more rarely bisexual Petals 3–5 (rarely absent), free (or variously connate outside our area)

      Flora of China @ efloras.orgGeneral Information

      Trees or shrubs, resiniferous. Leaves alternate or rarely opposite, odd-pinnate, 3-foliolate (or rarely 1-foliolate), stipulate or exstipulate. Inflorescence racemose or paniculate. Flowers regular, small, unisexual or bisexual, often polygamous. Calyx 3-6-lobed, imbricate or valvate. Petals 3-6, free or rarely connate, imbricate or valvate. Disk annular or cupular, usually conspicuous. Stamens as many as or 2 × as many as petals, inserted at base or margin of disk, equal or unequal; filaments free, rarely connate at base; anthers dorsifixed or rarely adnate, 2-thecate, dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary superior, usually 2-5-celled; ovules 2 or rarely 1 in each cell, usually anatropous, axile, pendulous or rarely ascending, micropyle superior, raphe adaxial; style simple; stigma undivided or 2-5-lobed. Fruit drupaceous, indehiscent, containing 2-5 pyrenes, or rarely pseudocapsular and dehiscent. Seeds solitary, exalbuminous; testa membranous; cotyledons usually membranous, contortuplicate, rarely fleshy and planoconvex; radicle superior.

      Plants Of the World Online Portal - FTEAMorphology

      Trees or shrubs, rarely subscandent, usually secreting resin or oil but without pellucid gland-dots in the leaves; the outer bark often peeling off in flakes, scrolls, strips or sheets, usually translucent, transmitting light to the green or bluish green under-bark Flowers rather small, regular, bisexual or imperfectly unisexual and dioecious, in panicles, corymbs, racemes, cymes or fascicles, or solitary Leaves spirally arranged, usually without stipules, imparipinnate, 1–3-foliolate or occasionally simple, rarely bipinnate in America Petals (0–)3–5(–6), valvate or imbricate, almost always free Receptacle saucer-shaped or cupular; calyx, ± divided into 3–5(–6) usually valvate lobes Ovary superior, 2–5(6–8)-locular, with 2 ovules pendent from the apex of each locule Stamens placed outside or on the margin of a disc, (3–5)–6, 8 or 10(–12), usually twice as many as the petals and in 2 whorls Fruit a 1–5-seeded drupe or pseudocapsule Flowers rather small, regular, bisexual or imperfectly unisexual and dioecious, in panicles, corymbs, racemes, cymes or fascicles, or solitary Leaves spirally arranged, usually without stipules, imparipinnate, 1–3-foliolate or occasionally simple, rarely bipinnate in America Petals (0–)3–5(–6), valvate or imbricate, almost always free Receptacle saucer-shaped or cupular; calyx, ± divided into 3–5(–6) usually valvate lobes Ovary superior, 2–5(6–8)-locular, with 2 ovules pendent from the apex of each locule Stamens placed outside or on the margin of a disc, (3–5)–6, 8 or 10(–12), usually twice as many as the petals and in 2 whorls Fruit a 1–5-seeded drupe or pseudocapsule

        Bibliography

       Information From

      Flora Zambesiaca - descriptions
      Flora Zambesiaca
      • A
      Plants Of the World Online Portal - FTEA
      World Flora Online Data. 2024.
      • B
      Flora of West Tropical Africa - species descriptions
      World Flora Online Data. 2024.
      • C The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
      Flore du Gabon
      https://portal.cybertaxonomy.org/flore-gabon/
      Flore du Gabon. 2024.
      • D Flore du Gabon All Rights Reserved
      Flora of China @ efloras.org
      World Flora Online Data. 2024.
      • E Missouri Botanical Garden
      Flore d'Afrique Centrale
      • F http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
      Burseraceae
      https://powo.science.kew.org/
      World Flora Online Data. 2022.
      • G CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0).
      World Flora Online consortium
      http://www.worldfloraonline.org/organisation/WFO
      World Flora Online Data. 2024.
      • H All Rights Reserved
      • I CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0).