Boswellia, Bursera, and Commiphora species are known to occasionally hybridize in their natural habitat, but in recent years many hobbyists, collectors, and some nurseries have been deliberately hybridizing many of the significant species mostly for display. Unfortunately, in most cases, very little data is documented. This practice has become disconcerting due to the uncontrolled distribution of these hybrids to other collectors, botanical gardens, and nurseries resulting in contaminating the gene pool of the true species in cultivation. In the case of resin producing species, the heteroses of hybridization does not only manifest in the phenotypes of the hybrids, but profoundly influences the chemical structure of the resin. The end result, in a few known cases, has varied from hybrid resin containing toxic compounds to unexpected changes in the chemistry of the resin.
To protect the known species and for the sake of public health, it is important that a detailed data is recorded on all hybrids and the information accompanies the sale, trade, or other distribution of the hybrids.
In the distant past we did offer a few hybrids to the public, but all have been described and published. Since the TEC was formed in 2018, we have not sold any hybrids and under our new policy, will not offer hybrids to public.
Our known stock trees have been grown from seeds collected from their habitat, or from saplings which have been imported to safeguard the wild species. We intend to protect the gene pool of the habitat species, and hope that we all consider ourselves the curators of these sacred trees and stop irresponsible breeding.