Commiphora kua
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Commiphora abyssinica 2017-09-28 5305.jpg
|image_caption = Peeling bark on the Commiphora habessinica
|genus = Commiphora
|species = kua
|authority = (R.Br. ex Royle) Vollesen (1984)
|synonyms =
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{{Plainlist | style = margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; |
- Amyris kafal Forssk. (1775)
- Balsamea abyssinica Engl. (1880)
- Balsamea habessinica {{small|(O.Berg) Engl. (1880)}}
- Balsamodendrum abyssinicum Engl. (1880)
- Balsamodendrum africanum var. habessinicum {{small|(O.Berg) Oliv. (1868)}}
- Balsamodendrum habessinicum O.Berg (1862)
- Balsamodendrum kafal (Forssk.) Kunth ex DC. (1825)
- Balsamodendrum kua {{small|R.Br. ex Royle (1847)}}
- Balsamus kafal (Forssk.) Stackh. (1815)
- Commiphora abyssinica (Engl.) Engl. (1883)
- Commiphora assaortensis Chiov. (1932)
- Commiphora atramentaria {{small|Chiov. (1932)}}
- Commiphora bruceae {{small|Chiov. (1941)}}
- Commiphora candidula {{small|Sprague (1927)}}
- Commiphora crenulata {{small|(A.Terracc.) Chiov. (1915)}}
- Commiphora dancaliensis Chiov.
- Commiphora ellenbeckii {{small|Engl. (1904)}}
- Commiphora flaviflora {{small|Engl. (1904)}}
- Commiphora gowlello {{small|Sprague (1927)}}
- Commiphora gracilispina {{small|J.B.Gillett (1991)}}
- Commiphora habessinica {{small|(O.Berg) Engl. (1883)}}
- Commiphora habessinica var. crenulata {{small|A.Terracc. (1894)}}
- Commiphora habessinica var. simplicifolia {{small|Schweinf. (1899)}}
- Commiphora habessinica subsp. tanganyikensis {{small|J.B.Gillett (1991)}}
- Commiphora incisa {{small|Chiov. (1916)}}
- Commiphora kua var. gowlello {{small|(Sprague) J.B.Gillett (1991)}}
- Commiphora lindensis {{small|Engl. (1904)}}
- Commiphora salubris Engl. (1917)
- Commiphora subsessilifolia Engl. (1904)
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|synonyms_ref = [https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:913830-1 Commiphora kua (R.Br. ex Royle) Vollesen]. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
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Commiphora kua, sometimes known as Abyssinian myrrh or the Yemen myrrh, is a plant native to northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, including Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi, Oman and Yemen.{{Cite web|url=https://plants.jstor.org/compilation/Commiphora.habessinica|title=Commiphora habessinica in Global Plants on JSTOR|website=plants.jstor.org|language=en|access-date=2018-04-24}}{{GRIN|name=Commiphora habessinica|id=310582|accessdate=25 April 2013}} It was first described as Balsamodendrum kua in 1847, and has many botanical synonyms. It can be recognised by its simple, serrate leaves and by the pseudo aril, covering the seed, which has four almost linear arm-like lobes.
Description
Commiphora kua is a widespread species and it varies greatly in appearance between drier areas and those most affected by the monsoon. The plant varies dramatically from low, spiny shrubs with small leaves in the drier areas to medium size, unarmed trees with a distinct trunk and large leaves in areas affected by the monsoon. It is dioecious, with bark peeling of flaking and when cut it oozes a pleasant smelling resin.{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/plant/Sapindales#ref279275|title=Sapindales {{!}} plant order|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2018-04-24|language=en}} The leaves alternate or are fascicled on short condensed side shoots. The leaves are 10-50mm long x 5-40mm across with an acute tip and glossy green colour. The flowers are red or yellow and there are usually 1–5 on the side shoots amongst the leaves. Male and female flowers are similar but male flowers are usually in groups whereas female flowers are usually solitary. The fruit is ovoid, 7-9 x 4-6mm, green and red coloured and 1-seeded splitting into 2 valves. The seed is orange or pale yellow with 4-lobed pseudo aril.
Traditional uses
The resin, also called myrrh of Commiphora kua, was used in traditional medicine in Arabia. A small quantity would be painted over the body area to be treated.{{Cite book|title=Plants of Dhofar, the southern region of Oman : traditional, economic, and medicinal uses|last=G.|first=Miller, Anthony|date=1988|publisher=Prepared and published by the Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Sultanate of Oman|others=Morris, Miranda., Stuart-Smith, Susanna., Oman. Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment.|isbn=0715708082|location=[Muscat]|page=86|oclc=20798112}}
Commiphora kua is also edible. A young plant with the root peeled and chewed produces a sweet, refreshing liquid. After monsoons or rainstorms, the Commiphora habbesinica produces a sugary liquid. The plant can then be cut in cross sections and sucked for its fluid.
References
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{{Taxonbar|from1=Q15544741|from2=Q10457487}}
Category:Plants described in 1847
Category:Flora of the Arabian Peninsula
Category:Flora of Northeast Tropical Africa
Category:Flora of East Tropical Africa