Gumbo Limbo (SPC Florida Plants )

Gumbo Limbo

Bursera simaruba

Summary ⁴

Gumbo limbo is one of the fastest growing Florida native trees, and is also considered one of the most wind-tolerant trees. This large semi-evergreen tree, with an open, irregular to rounded crown grows from 25 to 50 ft. tall with an equal or wider spread. The tree typically develops from two to four large-diameter limbs, originating close to the ground. The branches are spreading and often contorted. The wood is light-weight, fine-textured, soft, and weak. A grayish resin with the taste of turpentine exudes from cuts into the wood of gumbo limbo trees. The crushed twigs, leaves, fruit, and bark also have an odor reminiscent of turpentine. It is easily recognized by the unusually showy bark on its trunks and branches. There are perhaps two such types. Commonly described are trees with a thin, reddish-brown to coppery colored peeling bark. These are often referred to as the "tourist tree" because the tree's bark is red and peeling, like the skin of a sun burnt tourist. However, another variation has a thin gray to silvery bark that also exfoliates. Both color types expose a smooth dark green or greenish-brown, sometime coppery under-bark that is thick and resinous. Trees of all bark colors are often found together in the same location. The leaves are alternate, odd-pinnate, 6 to 14 in. long with 3 to 9 leaflets, but mostly with 7 or 9 leaflets. The petioles commonly measure 2 to 3 in. long. Each leaflet measures 2 to 4.5 in. long and 1 to 2 in. wide. They have short petiolulus of about 0.3 in. long. The leaflets mature to a dark green with a paler underside. The blade is asymmetrically oblong to ovate with a smooth and sometimes slightly wavy margin. It is abruptly short-pointed at the apex and broad and oblique at the base. The flowers emerge slightly before or with the first leaves from late winter to late spring but sometimes in summer. Flowers and fruits usually appear together. The flowers are borne on compound clusters known as panicles. They are inconspicuous with creamy white or greenish petals. The fruit are drupes held in clusters of many fruits. They take about a year to fully mature although they reach full size early. They are particularly conspicuous in late winter, as the leaves fall, in stalked clusters. Individual fruits are 1-seeded, 3-lobed, and greenish-brown. The outer parts split off as 3 valves to reveal a 3-angled seed which remains attached to the fruit stalk.

Sources and Credits

(c) Bob Peterson, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/pondapple/8335556200/
(c) Homer Edward Price, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5228/5598040397_a17db539e1.jpg
(c) Milo44, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gumbo_Limbo_Tree_DeSoto_National_Monument.JPG
(c) t_kok, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

Range Map

iNat Map

Leaf arrangement	Alternate
Leaf shape	Oblong, Ovate
Fruit	Brown
Flowers	White
Leaf type	Pinnately compound

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