Previous plant

Commiphora gileadensis

Next plant

Photo by Gregg DeChirico.


The flowers from Toptropicals.com.

Author: Carl Frederik Albert Christensen, 1922
Family:  BURSERACEAE
Origin:  Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen (Israel)
Soil:  Mix
Water:  Minimum - Medium
Sun:  Maximum
Thickness:  40 Centimetres
Height:  5 Metres
Flower:  White - Cream
Propagate:  Seeds/Cuttings
Names:  Balsam of Mecca, Balsam of Gilead, Balm of Gilead, Myrrha
Synonyms:  Amyris gileadensis, Linne, 1764.
Amyris opobalsamum
Linne,1764.
Balsamea gileadensis, Oken
Balsamea meccanensis, Gled.
Balsamea opobalsamum, Baill.
Balsamodendrum ehrenbergianum, O.Berg
Balsamodendrum gileadense, Kunth ex DC.
Balsamodendrum opobalsamum, Kunth ex DC.
Balsamus libanotus, Stackh.
Balsamus meccanensis, Stackh.
Balsamus theophrasti, Stackh.
Commiphora opobalsamum
Engl. 1883.
Commiphora albiflora
Engl. 1904.
Commiphora velutina
Chiov. 1916.
Commiphora anfractuosa
Chiov.1932.
Commiphora cassan
Chiov. 1932.
Commiphora coronillifolia
Chiov. 1932.
Commiphora microcarpa
Chiov. 1932.
Commiphora ancistrophora
Chiov. 1932.
Commiphora suckertiana
Chiov. 1934.
Commiphora gillettii
Chiov. 1941.

This member of the Burseraceae family was given this name by Carl Frederik Albert Christensen in 1922. It is found in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and now in Israel, growing in a well drained soil with little to some water water and lots of sun. The stem will eventually grow up to 40 centimetres in diameter, the whole bush up to five metres. The flowers are white to cream coloured, and the is is possible to propagate it from cuttings.

The genera name from Greek kommi; 'gum' and Greek -phoros; 'carrying' for the balsam-like scented resin. The species name after Gilead Myrrh.