| Protium | |
|---|---|
| Protium heptaphyllum | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Subclass: | Rosidae |
| (unranked): | Eurosids II |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Burseraceae |
| Tribe: | Protieae |
| Genus: | Protium Burm.f. |
| Species | |
|
Over 140, see text |
|
Protium is a genus of more than 140 species of flowering plants in the family Burseraceae. It is native to the Neotropics (where more than 100 species occur), Madagascar, New Guinea, and southern Asia from Pakistan east to Vietnam. The genus was for some times included in Bursera, but is well distinct, being most closely related to Crepidospermum and Tetragastris.
The species are usually small or medium sized trees, but some can be large, up to 35 meters tall. In their native range, some species are grown for timber, used as firewood, as medicinal plants, for their fruit, or in other cultural contexts.