Common Name:

General Information

Commiphora edulis is a shrub or small tree growing from 2 - 10 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of resin and wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

East Africa - Ethiopia and Somalia, south to Botswana, Mozambique and S. Africa.

Habitat

Deciduous shrubland at elevations from 450 - 1,500 metres[]. In thicket or mixed woodland or bush in the hotter and drier areas of southern Africa[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	5.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the arid and semi-arid tropics, where it can be found at elevations from 450 - 1,500 metres[]. It grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall is within the range 350 - 900mm[].
Found in the wild in sunny positions in well-drained, rocky soils[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. This report specifically refers to the subspecies holosericea[]. The fruit is very fleshy[]. The ellipsoid fruit is around 20mm long and 12mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

An infusion of the bark is used to treat malaria[].

The roots, leaves and stem are used as remedy for stomach ache, menstrual problems etc[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree protects the surrounding soil from erosion[]. The leaf litter helps to enhance soil fertility[].

Other Uses

A gum-resin exudes from the cut stems. It is fairly scented, sparse or sometimes copious and milky[]. It can be used as glue for attaching feathers on to arrows[].

Branches of ssp. boiviniana are used for making fire by friction[].

The wood makes a good fuel[].

Propagation

Seed -

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