An interesting little shrub-like, caudiciform tree from Oaxaca, Mexico with a thickly swollen trunk and tan to reddish peeling bark. The dense branches have small obovate, deciduous leaves and bear tiny, aromatic fruits. Great for bonsai work. The leaves may turn bright colors if exposed to cool temps in the fall of the year.

Known as the ‘Elephant Tree’ in Baja, this is a fascinating and decorative tree of the Sonoran and associated floral zones of northern Mexico into extreme southern California and Arizona. Thick trunks with peeling whitish bark are grossly thick, forming a caudex, especially in plants with a restricted root zone. The foliage is pinnately compound and very lacy and delicate looking, deciduous in most instances. The sap is aromatic and the tiny fruits are quite fragrant. Growing to tree-like proportions under ideal conditions, it is also found in a dwarfed state with a Bonsai-like appearance.