Commiphora marlothii

Engl.

Paper-bark tree, Paperbark corkwood

Burseraceae Edible: Fruit, Root 241 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Description

A small to medium sized tree. It grows to 13 m tall. It often has a thick trunk. The bark is green and peeling. It peels in yellow, papery sheets. The leaves have 3-4 pairs of opposite leaflets then an end leaflet. The leaflets are oblong and 3-7.5 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. They are pale green. They are soft. The edges of the leaflets are scalloped. The flowers are small and yellow. They are in the axils of leaves. They are in compact heads 1.8 cm across. The fruit are oval and green or brownish-red. They have a small sharp tip. The stone has a 4 loved aril or seed layer. This is yellow or red.

Edible Uses

The fruit is eaten fresh or processed into jelly or jam. The root is peeled and chewed for its sweet juice.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten. They are sometimes processed into jelly or jam. The root is chewed for its sweet juice. It is first peeled.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It is normally always associated with rocky or stony hill slopes. In Zimbabwe it grows between 500-1,550 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

It can be grown from seeds or by large cuttings. It is usually best grown from seeds.

Notes

There are about 165 Commiphora species.

Also Known As

Ikwazakwaza, Mubobo, Mudyaroro, Mufunka, Mufunuka, Mukuhunum, Mupepe, Mupumbua, Mutedza, Mutvedzambira, Muwirowiro, Nyanzoni, Paperbark commiphora, Papierbaskanniedood, Umkwazakwaza, Umqoqodo, Tebotebo

References (13)

Drummond, R. B., 1981, Common Trees of the Central Watershed Woodlands of Zimbabwe, National Herbarium Salisbury. p 102
Exell, A.W. et al, (Ed), 1963, Flora Zambesiaca Vol 2 Part 1 Crown Agents, London. p 275
Heywood, V.H., Brummitt, R.K., Culham, A., and Seberg, O. 2007, Flowering Plant Families of the World. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. p 74
Magwede, K., van Wyk, B.-E., & van Wyk, A. E., 2019, An inventory of Vhavenḓa useful plants. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 57–89
Palgrave, K.C., 1996, Trees of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers. p 364

Show all 13 references

Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 73
Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 40
Schmidt, E., Lotter, M., & McCleland, W., 2007, Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park. Jacana Media p 246
Tredgold, M.H., 1986, Food Plants of Zimbabwe. Mambo Press. p 97
van Wyk, B, van Wyk, P, and van Wyk B., 2000, Photographic guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Briza. p 97
Welcome, A. K. & Van Wyk, B.-E., 2019, An inventory and analysis of the food plants of southern Africa. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 136–179
Wild, 1975,
www.zimbabweflora.co.zw 2011