Bursera microphylla Elephant Tree

Bursera microphylla Elephant TreeBursera microphylla Bursera microphylla, also known as elephant tree in English or 'torote' in Spanish, is a tree in that grows into a distinctive sculptural form, with a thickened, water storing or caudiciform trunk and perhaps the most xeromorphic (desert adapted) species within the genus This tree is native to northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United Description Bursera microphylla is generally a small tree with a thickened trunk and

Bursera microphylla
Bursera microphylla, also known as elephant tree in English or 'torote' in Spanish, is a tree in that grows into a distinctive sculptural form, with a thickened, water-storing or caudiciform trunk and perhaps the most xeromorphic (desert-adapted) species within the genus This tree is native to northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United

Description
Bursera microphylla is generally a small tree with a thickened trunk and relatively small branching. Can grow up to 10 m (33 ft) in height and its bark is light gray to white, with younger branches having a reddish color. It flowers in rounded yellow buds which open into small, star-shaped, white or cream flowers.

The leaves are characterized as deciduous, but B. microphylla keeps its leaves year-round, except under conditions of drought and cold weather.
The exfoliating papery bark of many of the trivalvate species may serve to attract the attention of birds and other animals from a distance as it rustles in the breeze.