Summary
Verified:
01/21/1988
ARS Systematic Botanists.
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Reference(s)
- Boer, E. & A. B. Ella, eds. 2000. Plants producing exudates. Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA). 1989- 18:130.
- Correa, J. E. & H. Y. Bernal. Especies vegetales promisorias de los paises del Convenio Andres Bello. 1989-1998
- Craker, L. E. & J. E. Simon, eds. Herbs, spices, and medicinal plants, 2 vols. 1986-1987
- Duke, J. A. Handbook of legumes of world economic importance. 1981
- Encarnación, F. Nomenclatura de las especies forestales comunes en el Perú. 1983
- McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2. 2000
- McVaugh, R. Flora Novo-Galiciana. 1983-
- Rehm, S. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants. 1994
- Rudd, V. E. 1968. Leguminosae of Mexico - Faboideae I. Sophoreae and Podalyrieae. Rhodora 70:503.
- Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. World economic plants: a standard reference (on-line edition) [medicinal plants only].
Common names
English
balsam-of-Tolu – opobalsam – Tolu balsam – Tolu-balsam-tree – French
baumier de Tolu – German
Tolubalsambaum – Spanish
árbol de Tolú – árbol tolú – bálsamo de Tolú – estoraque –
Distribution
| order_code | Status | Continent | Subcontinent | Country | State | Note |
| 1 | Native | Southern America | Mesoamerica | Panama | | |
| 1 | Native | Southern America | Northern South America | Venezuela | | |
| 1 | Native | Southern America | Western South America | Colombia | Amazonas | |
| 1 | Native | Southern America | Western South America | Colombia | Antioquia | |
| 1 | Native | Southern America | Western South America | Colombia | Cesar | |
| 1 | Native | Southern America | Western South America | Colombia | Magdalena | |
| 1 | Native | Southern America | Western South America | Colombia | Meta | |
| 1 | Native | Southern America | Western South America | Ecuador | Napo | |
| 1 | Native | Southern America | Western South America | Ecuador | Pastaza | |
| 1 | Native | Southern America | Western South America | Ecuador | Zamora-Chinchipe | |
| 1 | Native | Southern America | Western South America | Peru | | |
| 2 | Cultivated | | | | | |
Native
Southern America
-
MESOAMERICA:
Panama
-
NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA:
Venezuela
-
WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA:
Colombia [Antioquia, Magdalena, Meta, Cesar, Amazonas], Ecuador [Napo, Pastaza, Zamora-Chinchipe], Peru
Cultivated
()
Economic Uses
| Usage | Type | Note | Reference |
| Environmental | ornamental | | Boer, E. & A. B. Ella, eds. 2000. Plants producing exudates. Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA). 1989- 18:130. |
| Food additives | flavoring | | Boer, E. & A. B. Ella, eds. 2000. Plants producing exudates. Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA). 1989- 18:130. |
| Materials | essential oils | | Boer, E. & A. B. Ella, eds. 2000. Plants producing exudates. Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA). 1989- 18:130. |
| Materials | gum/resin | | Boer, E. & A. B. Ella, eds. 2000. Plants producing exudates. Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA). 1989- 18:130. |
| Materials | wood | | Encarnación, F. Nomenclatura de las especies forestales comunes en el Perú. 1983 |
| Medicines | source of balsam | | Boer, E. & A. B. Ella, eds. 2000. Plants producing exudates. Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA). 1989- 18:130. |
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System.
2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network
(GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://ausgenebank.agriculture.vic.gov.au/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=313335.
Accessed 1 May 2026.