Commiphora

Commiphora
Commiphora myrrha
Commiphora myrrha
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Sapindales
Family: Burseraceae
Genus: Commiphora
Jacq.

Species
See text

Commiphora is a genus of flowering plants. It includes about 185 species of trees and shrubs, often armed or thorny, native to Africa, Arabia, and the Indian subcontinent.

Uses

Several of these species produce fragrant resins used for incense, perfume, and medication, including Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) and Balsam of Mecca (C. opobalsamum).

Selected species

  • Commiphora africana (syn. Heudelotia africana), sometimes identified with ancient bdellium.
  • Commiphora boranensis
  • Commiphora caudata
  • Commiphora corrugata
  • Commiphora gileadensis (syn. Commiphora opobalsamum), producing balsam of Mecca.
  • Commiphora habessinica
  • Commiphora kataf (syn. Commiphora erythraea), producing bisabol.
  • Commiphora madagascariensis
  • Commiphora mossambicensis
  • Commiphora myrrha (syn. Commiphora molmol), producing myrrh.
  • Commiphora schimperi
  • Commiphora stocksiana, known in Pakistan as bayisa gugal
  • Commiphora wightii (syn. Commiphora mukul), producing gum guggul, sometimes identified with ancient bdellium.

External links

Template:Sapindales-stub