Pachycormus discolor

Appearance

This species is a tree or shrub with a gnarled growth habit that can result in bizarre shapes and forms. On the Pacific coast, in areas with strong coastal winds, the growth habit is usually prostrate or sprawling. The trunk is usually 60 to 80 cm in diameter and covered in a smooth, exfoliating, skin-like epidermis . Beneath the papery outer bark, which exfoliates annually, is a spongey, blue-green photosynthetic inner bark 2.54 to 5.08 cm thick. The inner bark exudes a milky sap that dries clear and hardens into a gum or resin.

The leaves are dark green, pinnately compound, pubescent, and drought deciduous, yellowing first before they drop. There are 3 to 15 leaflets, measuring 3 to 10 mm long and shaped oval or oblong. The herbage is puberulent. Leaf size is variable within the infraspecies. The inflorescence is a panicle. The flowers are dioecious, and are colored yellowish, pink or red . The petals are accrescent, about 5 mm long and with an acute tip. The fruits are shorter than the petals, and are pubescent. The flowers appear in May, and can bloom into September, depending on moisture levels.

Naming

The generic name refers to the Greek ''pachy'' for "thick" and ''kormos'' for "trunk," referring to the thick caudiciform trunk. The common name is derived from the thick size of the trunk relative to the tree, like that of an elephant. The common name "elephant tree" is also applied to ''Bursera microphylla'' as well as other species.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the Baja California peninsula of Mexico, occupying the states of Baja California and Baja California Sur. The three varieties are subsequently endemic to their own parts of the peninsula. San Fernando Velicatá delimits the northern vicinity of this species, with variety ''pubescens'' found from there to the lower part of the peninsula near La Paz and various Gulf islands. In the far western parts of the peninsula, var. ''veatchiana'' occupies the western margins of the Vizcaino desert, Cedros Island, and the Natividad islands. In the south-western part of the peninsula, var. ''discolor'' is found on the islands of Magdalena Bay and the western flanks of the southern Sierra de La Giganta.

This species is primarily restricted to the Baja California desert and the Vizcaino desert, but can also be found in more temperate montane habitats, such as in the mountains of the Sierra de La Giganta and the Gulf islands. In the Sierra de La Giganta, the variety ''discolor'' grows sparsely on the mountain sides, but in ravines it can form impenetrable groves, and is found from sea level to an elevation of 1,500 ft . On Cedros Island, var. ''veatchiana'' is found in alluvial fans and canyons, growing tallest in these locations, and also coastal localities where it takes a prostrate form, in the desert parts of the island.

Typical habitats of this species in the north and central parts of its range are characterized by high temperatures in the summer, usually 34 to 45 °C in the day, and with temperatures that can fall to 3 °C on mild winter nights. Rain is mostly a result of Eastern Pacific hurricanes from August to October, but some years have no rainfall at all while others receive some winter rain from the north.

Habitat

This species is endemic to the Baja California peninsula of Mexico, occupying the states of Baja California and Baja California Sur. The three varieties are subsequently endemic to their own parts of the peninsula. San Fernando Velicatá delimits the northern vicinity of this species, with variety ''pubescens'' found from there to the lower part of the peninsula near La Paz and various Gulf islands. In the far western parts of the peninsula, var. ''veatchiana'' occupies the western margins of the Vizcaino desert, Cedros Island, and the Natividad islands. In the south-western part of the peninsula, var. ''discolor'' is found on the islands of Magdalena Bay and the western flanks of the southern Sierra de La Giganta.

This species is primarily restricted to the Baja California desert and the Vizcaino desert, but can also be found in more temperate montane habitats, such as in the mountains of the Sierra de La Giganta and the Gulf islands. In the Sierra de La Giganta, the variety ''discolor'' grows sparsely on the mountain sides, but in ravines it can form impenetrable groves, and is found from sea level to an elevation of 1,500 ft . On Cedros Island, var. ''veatchiana'' is found in alluvial fans and canyons, growing tallest in these locations, and also coastal localities where it takes a prostrate form, in the desert parts of the island.

Typical habitats of this species in the north and central parts of its range are characterized by high temperatures in the summer, usually 34 to 45 °C in the day, and with temperatures that can fall to 3 °C on mild winter nights. Rain is mostly a result of Eastern Pacific hurricanes from August to October, but some years have no rainfall at all while others receive some winter rain from the north.

Uses

Plants are grown in containers by caudiciform succulent aficionados. Plants do best in full sun. Only seed grown specimens develop the caudex. This species is marginally frost tolerant, with tip damage at 32 °F , death at 25 °F .

Considerable quantities of the bark were once exported to Europe for use in tanning.