Copal Macho (Bursera martae)

Descrizione

Scientific name: Bursera martae
Family: Burseraceae
Local name: Copal macho
Origin: Mexico

After the trip I took in July 2022 to meet my dear Mexican friend and collaborator I made some discoveries.
In the forests of Bursera bipinnata, or Copal blanco, every now and then a tree emerges with a large foliage which they call Macho, in Spanish it means male, masculine, perhaps referring to the powerful trunk that stands out from the slender B. bipinnata.
Since this tree also produces white resin, the copaleros make no distinction, when I went with them into the mountains to document, I specifically asked them to keep the 2 resins divided, and so they did!
You can view some of my videos on YT, while I documented the encounter with this fascinating tree, at minute 33:05

Almost the same aroma, which is why the collectors do not make distinctions, among other things it is a sacred tree, perhaps the macho has a slightly more spicy and less balsamic edge.
Like many resins of the Bursera genus, being rich in waxes and essential oils, upon contact with charcoal it melts completely, so don’t overdo it by adding too large pieces as it could extinguish the embers.