The incense tree family has been moving across the globe for 65 million years.

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Known for their aromatic, flaking bark and non-allergenic resins, the Burseraceae family has traveled from North American origins to dominate tropical landscapes worldwide. From the ancient embalming agents of Egypt to modern construction timber, these trees have shaped human history through their unique chemical defenses and efficient seed dispersal.

The Burseraceae, or incense tree family, comprises about 540 species of woody plants across 17 to 19 genera. Characterized by vertical resin canals and a distinctive peeling bark, these plants produce aromatic, non-allergenic resins. While they are now primarily found in the tropics of Africa, Asia, Australasia, and the Americas, their evolutionary history is complex. Genetic evidence suggests the family diverged in North America during the Paleocene, roughly 65 million years ago, with Beiselia mexicana serving as a basal genus.

The family's global distribution was driven by both geological shifts and biological ingenuity. During the Eocene, species migrated from North America into Laurasia and the Southern Hemisphere. This expansion was aided by endozoochory, where animals consumed the family's fleshy, nutrient-rich fruits and dispersed the seeds. Today, the greatest genetic diversity is found in the Southern Hemisphere, though recent 2023 fossil findings in India suggest the family might have originated in Insular India near the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, a theory that continues to be debated alongside the North American origin hypothesis.

Economically and culturally, the Burseraceae have been vital for millennia. Boswellia sacra and Commiphora myrrha provided the frankincense and myrrh prized by ancient civilizations for religious rituals, medicine, and embalming. In the Caribbean, Dacryodes excelsa serves as a dominant timber source, while the gumbo limbo, Bursera simaruba, is valued for its resilience against hurricane-force winds. Whether used for incense, varnish, or traditional medicine, these plants demonstrate a remarkable ability to adapt to diverse environments, from arid deserts to dense rainforests, while maintaining their signature chemical profile.

Taxonomically, the family has undergone significant revision, frequently shifting between orders like the Geraniales and Rutales before settling into the Sapindales. They are now recognized as a sister group to the Anacardiaceae, sharing secretory canals and specific leaf chemistry. This classification is supported by molecular data, which divides the family into three distinct tribes: Protieae, Bursereae, and Canarieae, each defined by unique fruit morphology.

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