Previous plant

Commiphora habessinica

Next plant

A small plant from Giromagicactusandsucculents.com.


The leaves by Muhammad Al Shanfari, Flickr.com.

Author:  Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler, 1883
Family:  BURSERACEAE
Origin:  Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi, Oman, Tanzania, Yemen
Soil:  Mix
Water:  Medium
Sun:  Maximum
Thickness:  20 Centimetres
Height:  6 Metres
Flower:  Yellow - Red
Propagate:  Seeds/Cuttings
Names:  Abyssinian Myrrh, Yemen Myrrh
Synonyms:  Balsamodendrum habessinicum, Otto Karl Berg, 1862.
Balsamea habessinica
, Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler, 1880.
And might just be: Commiphora kua!

This member of the Burseraceae family was given this name by Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler in 1883. It is found in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi, Oman, Tanzania and Yemen, growing in a well drained soil with some water and lots of sun. The stem can grow to 20 centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to six metres in height. The flowers are from pale yellow to red.

There are quite some sources that list quite some synonyms. Kaj Børge Vollesen kept it as a separate species. And the plant seems to change throughout it habitat: From small scrub with tiny leaves in dry areas to six metre trees with large leaves in monsoon areas.

The genera name from Greek kommi; 'gum' and Greek -phoros; 'carrying' for the balsam-like scented resin. The species name refers to Abyssinia; the old name for Yemen.