commiphora myrrha  

3. Commiphora myrrha Engl. in DC. Monogr. Phan. 4:10 (1883). Plate Commiph. 3.
Arabic Names : Murr, Qafal, Asarah
JA
A much-branched and gnarled shrub or tree, up to 2.5 m to 4 m tall. Branches spine-
tipped, bark peeling papery, silvery to bluish or grey. Leaves 1-3-5-foliolate, leaflets
variable in size, terminal large, 4-40 x 3-25 mm, oblanceolate-obovate, variable on
the same plant, the margin entire-dentate, sinuate or serrate, apex rounded to subacute

to acute; lateral leaflets small, 2-3 mm across, elliptic, entire, obtuse - acute.
Inflorescence 1-2-flowered cymes, pedunculate, peduncle up to 3 mm long. Flowers 3
mm across, pedicellate, pedicel up to 2.5 mm long. Calyx 2.5-5.0 mm long, with a
distinct tube below the filament attachment. Petals dull-white to dull-greenish-
purplish, 3-4 mm long. Fruit ovoid-ellipsoid, 10-16 x6-8 mm, apex with a curved
beak or apiculate, 2-valved, glabrous. Pseudoaril a basal cup with two triangular lobes
and two narrower lobes. Stone, compressed, ovoid-ellipsoid, obtuse-acute, 5.5-9 x 4-
6 mm, 2-4 mm thick, smooth-rugose.
Saudi Arabia : Jizan, Hamdah and near Makkah.
Distribution : Arabia, Trop. E. Africa.
Flowering
: March-June.
Note: A very variable species in general facies and habit. A number of forms can
easily be recognized within this group based on margin of leaves, types of hairs on
leaves, venation, hairiness of fruits. However, the present authors have refrained from
describing any new taxa because of non-availability of more material not only from
Saudi Arabia, but also from the entire range of distribution, and the non-availability of
type specimens of Commiphora myrrha. Collenette (1999, 1.c.) has indicated possibly
one new un-described taxon, which we are tentatively placing under C. myrrha.