Palo santo
Bursera graveolens
On landLeast concern
Palo santo is a dry-forest tree whose fragrant wood is known as holy wood. It dominates the arid lowland zones of many Galápagos islands, where its pale, leafless branches turn green and leaf out after rain. It is native across the Neotropics from Mexico to Peru and is not endemic to the Galápagos. The tree’s resin and wood are widely used as incense.
Best time to see it
Drought-deciduous; leafs out and flowers with the warm wet season, roughly December to May, and drops its leaves in the dry garúa months.