Commiphora habessinica

(O. Berg.) Engl.

Abyssinian myrrh

Burseraceae Edible: Fruit, Sap, Root, Stem, Flavouring Potential hazards — see below 34 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 6 m tall. It loses its leaves during the year. Plants are separately male and female. There are 2 subspecies.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh. The stems and roots are sweet and are chewed. The resin is used as a spice or flavoring.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten. (Unripe fruit are bitter and can cause vomiting.) The stems and roots are sweet and are chewed. The resin is used as a spice or flavouring.

Medicinal Uses

The resin (myrrh gum) is traditionally used.

Known Hazards

Unripe fruit are bitter and can cause vomiting.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It is often on soils from limestone materials. In Africa it grows between 150-1,900 m above sea level. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 100-900 mm. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo, Djibouti, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, Oman, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia,

Notes

It yields a myrrh gum.

Synonyms

Balsamodendron habessinica O. Berg.Commiphora abyssinica (Engl.) Engl.Commiphora assaortensis Chiov.Commiphora dancaliensis Chiov.Commiphora habessinica (O. Berg.) Engl. var. simplicifolia sensu Cufod. non Schweinf.Commiphora rivae sensu Chiov.Commiphora salubris Engl.Commiphora subsessilifolia Engl.Commiphora madagascariensis sensu Wild.

Also Known As

Arabian myrrh, Hamesa, Hedayito, Medigeh, Medyigeh, Mesh-qeyi, Okor

References (7)

Addis, G., Asfaw, Z & Woldu, Z., 2013, Ethnobotany of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants of Konso Ethnic Community, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research and Applications. 11:121-141
Bahru, T., et al, 2013, Wild Edible Plants: Sustainable Use and Management by Indigenous Communities in and the Buffer Area of Awah National Park, Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Sci., 36(2): 93-108
Lulekal, E., et al, 2011, Wild edible plants in Ethiopia: a review on their potential to combat food insecurity. Afrika Focus - Vol. 24, No 2. pp 71-121
Miller, A. G., Morris, M. & Stuart-Smith, S., 1988, Plants of Dhofar. The Southern Region of Oman, Traditional, Economic and Medicinal Uses. Sultanate of Oman. p 86
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1999). Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) database. Published on the Internet; http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ceb/sepasal/internet [Accessed 5th April 2011]

Show all 7 references

Seidemann J., 2005, World Spice Plants. Economic Usage, Botany, Taxonomy. Springer. p 115 (As Commiphora abyssinica)
Wiersema, J. H. & Leon, B., 2013, World Economic Plants. A Standard Reference CRC Press. 2nd Ed. p 193