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The Gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba) belongs to Burseraceae (the Torchwood family). It is a tall semi-evergreen tree that is native to tropical regions of the Americas from South Florida to Mexico and the Caribbean to Brazil, Nicaragua and Venezuela. This tree grows in dry forests, but sometimes in wetter forests, and may reach 15-30 m in height. The trunk and branches are thick and are covered with resinous, smooth, peeling coppery bark. The leaves are spirally arranged and pinnate with 7-11 broad ovate leaflets. Gumbo-limbo is considered one of the most wind-tolerant trees, and it is recommended as a rugged, hurricane-resistant species in South Florida. Its wood is also suitable for light construction.
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