Commiphora gileadensis
(L.) C.Chr.
Burseraceae
Amyris gileadensis L.
Amyris opobalsamum L.
Balsamea stocksiana Engl.
Balsamodendrum ehrenbergianum O.Berg
Balsamodendrum pubescens Stocks
Commiphora albiflora Engl.
Commiphora ancistrophora Chiov.
Commiphora anfractuosa Chiov.
Commiphora cassan Chiov.
Commiphora coronillifolia Chiov.
Commiphora gillettii Chiov.
Commiphora microcarpa Chiov.
Commiphora opobalsamum (L.) Engl.
Commiphora stocksiana (Engl.) Engl.
Commiphora suckertiana Chiov.
Commiphora velutina Chiov.
Common Name: Balsam of Gilead
Drawing of a branch, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds
Photograph by: Petronella J.M. Pas
Public domain
General Information
Commiphora gileadensis is an unarmed, deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 5 metres tall[
500- Title
- Flora of Somalia
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thulin M. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Kew Publishing, London.
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Detailed information on the plants of the region, often adding notes on the plants uses.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its gum resin. It has a long history of cultivation, with records of it having been grown in the Dead Sea area in the time of King Solomon, though it is little cultivated at present[
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
500- Title
- Flora of Somalia
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thulin M. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Kew Publishing, London.
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Detailed information on the plants of the region, often adding notes on the plants uses.
Range
Northeast tropical Africa - Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya; extending into Arabia.
Habitat
Acacia, Commiphora woodland or bushland; semidesert scrub; limestone hills; sand dunes; red to grey sandy soil overlying limestone and basement complex or rocky limestone ridges; old lava flows; dry hilly savannah; at elevations up to 1,300 metres[
328- Title
- African Flowering Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
- Publisher
- Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Deciduous Shrub |
| Height | 4.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of the drier areas of the tropics, where it is found at elevations from near sea level to over 1,300 metres[
500- Title
- Flora of Somalia
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thulin M. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Kew Publishing, London.
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Detailed information on the plants of the region, often adding notes on the plants uses.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The gum resin obtained from the stems is astringent, demulcent, diaphoretic, stomachic and vulnerary[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
]. It is used in the treatment of discharges from the genito-urinary organs[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].
The gum is applied externally to cleanse and heal wounds, bad ulcers, sores etc[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].
The fruit is carminative, expectorant and stimulant[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].
The essential oil contains a bitter substance[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].
Other Uses
A brown to reddish gum resin called 'Balsam of Gilead' is obtained from wounds or incisions in the stems, or by boiling the wood or the leaves[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
]. It is used in incenses and perfumery[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
