- Commiphora
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Commiphora 
Commiphora myrrha Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Rosids Order: Sapindales Family: Burseraceae Genus: Commiphora
Jacq.Species About 185. See text.
Synonyms - Balsamea
- Balsamodendron L.
Commiphora is a genus of flowering plants in the family Burseraceae. It includes about 185 species of trees and shrubs, often armed or thorny, native to Africa, Arabia, and the Indian subcontinent.
Contents
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 (A. Rich.) Engl. (syn. Heudelotia africana),[1] sometimes identified with ancient bdellium. Used indirectly by the San bushmen to poison their arrow tips for hunting [2]
- Commiphora angolensis, also known as "sand commiphora", growing mainly in Angola and Namibia
- Commiphora boranensis Vollesen[1]
- Commiphora caudata (Wight & Arn.) Engl.[1]
- Commiphora corrugata J. B. Gillett & Vollesen[1]
- Commiphora gileadensis (L.) C. Chr.[1] (syn. Commiphora opobalsamum), producing balsam of Mecca.
- Commiphora guidottii (syn. Commiphora sessiliflora), producing scented Myrrh or habak hadi in Somali.
- Commiphora guillaminii
- Commiphora habessinica
- Commiphora harveyi
- Commiphora humbertii
- Commiphora kataf (syn. Commiphora erythraea), producing bisabol.
- Commiphora madagascariensis
- Commiphora mossambicensis
- Commiphora myrrha (syn. Commiphora molmol), producing myrrh.
- Commiphora schimperi
- Commiphora simplicifolia H. Perrier[3]
- Commiphora stocksiana, known in Pakistan as bayisa gugal
- Commiphora wightii (syn. Commiphora mukul), producing gum guggul, sometimes identified with ancient bdellium.
Gallery
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Commiphora simplicifolia
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Commiphora simplicifolia
References
- ^ a b c d e "Species in GRIN for genus". www.ars-grin.gov. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?2849. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
- ^ Moorcroft, Koos; Gunduza, Raphael, Traditional skills of the Bushmen - Part 1: BUSHMAN WEAPONS, http://www.africanarcher.com/survivor/boesmans.html
- ^ "Commiphora simplicifolia in A Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Madagascar @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=12&taxon_id=250069186. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
External links
Categories:- Burseraceae
- Medicinal plants
- Sapindales stubs
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