Burseraceae Essential Oil

The Burseraceae is a family of eudicots of the order Sapindus.

Morphological Characteristics:

Trees or shrubs, occasionally subshrubs. Some species secrete resin or oily substances through resin ducts.

Leaves are usually odd-pinnate compound, rarely simple, alternate, often concentrated on upper branches, and generally lack glandular dots. Leaflets may be entire or toothed, and stipules may or may not be present.

Inflorescences are typically cymose or rarely paniculate or spicate, axillary or occasionally terminal. Flowers are small, radially symmetrical, 3-5-merous, and can be unisexual, bisexual, or polygamous. Calyx and corolla are imbricate or valvate, with 3-6 sepals often basally connate. Petals are 3-6, alternating with sepals. Stamens are usually reduced in female flowers, 1-2 whorls, equal in number to or twice as many as the petals.

Fruits are indehiscent drupes, with fleshy outer pericarp that does not split (rarely woody and dehiscent), and bony inner pericarp (rarely papery).

Seeds lack endosperm and have an erect or curved embryo.

Distribution:

The Burseraceae family comprises about 16 genera and approximately 550 species. These plants are native to Africa, Asia, and the Americas and are currently distributed in tropical regions of both the northern and southern hemispheres. They are significant components of tropical forests.