Botanical Families

Family of tropical trees and shrubs that produce aromatic resins and essential oils of great commercial and ritual value. Includes the genera Boswellia (frankincense), Commiphora (myrrh), Bursera, and others. Many species have succulent trunks or branches that store water.

Family of tropical trees and shrubs with milky latex, palmate leaves and fleshy fruits. Comprises genera such as Carica and Vasconcellea, native mainly to tropical and subtropical America. The papaya (Carica papaya) is its best-known species.

Family of trees, shrubs, and herbs with cosmopolitan distribution, especially diverse in the tropics. Ranges from enormous trees like baobabs (Adansonia) and kapok (Ceiba) to essential crops like cotton (Gossypium) and cacao (Theobroma). Recognized by their flowers with free petals and a characteristic staminal column, as well as their varied fruits.