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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.

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 (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 habessinica
• 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

Commiphora simplicifolia

Commiphora simplicifolia

References

External links

• Flora of Pakistan: Commiphora
• GRIN taxonomy: Commiphora
• Biblical Burseraceae