PACHYCORMUS DISCOLOR SEEDS - BAJA ELEPHANT TREE - EXOTIC IN SOUTH AFRICA

Pachycormus is native to Baja California. Belonging to the 'cashew' family Anacardiaceae, the genus Pachycormus contains only one species, Pachycormus discolour. It is considered to be a caudiciform succulent shrub or tree. It has a few synonyms namely Schinus discolor, Veatchia discolour and Rhus veatchiana. Pachycormus discolor has a thickened, branching trunk with an attractively peeling bark. The soft wood produces a milky, resinous exudate which distinguishes the bush from the closely related Bursera microphylla.           Leaves are pinnate. The inflorescence is a beautiful dense panicle of tiny, 5-petalled pink flowers. The swollen trunk of the Pachycormus discolor is covered with exfoliating, white, papery bark. The botanical genus name refers to that trunk; it comes from the Greek for "thick stump". The discoloured peeling white bark protects a green under-layer that still maintains photosynthesis when the tree is dormant. It makes an excellent bonsai subject because of its impressive caudex. Only seed grown specimens develop the caudex. It has few common names including Baja Elephant Tree, Copalquín and Torote Blanco.