gumbo-limbo

gum·bo-lim·bo

(gŭm′bō-lĭm′bō)

n. pl. gum·bo-lim·bos

An aromatic, resinous, tropical American tree (Bursera simaruba) having compound leaves and small white flowers, often planted as an ornamental.

[Perhaps gumbo + limbo (possibly of Bantu origin; akin to Kongo -dimbo, birdlime).]

gum′bo-lim′bo

n., pl. -lim•bos.

a tropical American tree, Bursera simaruba, of the bursera family, yielding an aromatic resin used in varnishes.

[1830–40, Amer.; of uncertain orig.]

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Noun

gumbo-limbo - tropical American tree yielding a reddish resin used in cements and varnishes

Bursera simaruba

incense tree - any of various tropical trees of the family Burseraceae yielding fragrant gums or resins that are burned as incense

Bursera, genus Bursera - type genus of Burseraceae; tropical and subtropical American shrubs and trees some yielding timber and gum elemi

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References in periodicals archive ?

The area where it was collected was a tropical deciduous forest dominated by custard apple trees Annona globiflora, gumbo-limbo trees Bursera simaruba, and guazima trees Guazuma ulmifolia.

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Today this site is a 25-acre park with 3,000 feet of shoreline and plenty of natural beauty--check out the sinuously sculptural gumbo-limbo trees.

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Gumbo-Limbo (237 points): Also called "tourist trees," because they stand in the sun, turn red, and peel, the champion is located in De Soto National Memorial Park just north in Bradenton, Florida.

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The gumbo-limbo, also known as West Indian birch, tends to be drought tolerant.

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Pearl drove around and parked by the gumbo-limbo stumps.

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In Biscayne National Park just off the coast of Southern Florida lies Elliott Key, a seven-mile long tangle of sea grape, West Indian mahogany, and gumbo-limbo.

Preserving the peace and quiet; the dull roar of progress and its machines is overwhelming the ambient sounds of nature in the parks and harming wildlife in the process. The Park Service and environmental groups are working to restore the soundscape, as important to an ecosystem--and our own well-being--as clean air and water

It is made from pure gumbo-limbo bark from a Belizian tree and mixed with aloe vera, vitamin E, and some cortisone.

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The green parts of gumbo-limbo bark use sunlight to make food, just as leaves do.