Commiphora aprevalii

Commiphora aprevalii, known locally as the Vazaha tree, is a member of the Burseraceae family endemic to Madagascar.

[1] The Vazaha tree is a deciduous succulent, which tolerates dry season conditions by shedding its leaves and storing water in its trunk and branches.

[2] The species was named after André Revillon d'Apreval, a French botanical illustrator active at the turn of the twentieth century.

[3] Another member of the Burseraceae family from across the world, the gumbo-limbo, shares both the peeling bark and the teasing nickname “tourist tree”.

[4] Commiphora aprevalii occurs on the island of Madagascar from sea level to 999 meters in dry and sub-arid climates.