burning bush, name for a North American plant of the family Celastraceae (staff tree family). The scriptural burning bush not consumed by fire (Ex. 3.2) is sometimes associated with a bramble or thorn and was adopted by the Presbyterian Church as an emblem of its early persecution. Burning bush is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Celastrales, family Celastraceae.