Commiphora rostrata

Family: Burseraceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 3.5 m high. It has a strong smell. A clear sap comes from the stems. The side shoots have a strong spine. The bark is smooth and dark red. The leaves are simple, entire and opposite. They are 1-4 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. Plants are separately male and female. The male flowers are in groups or 8-20 and the female flowers in groups or 1-2. The flowers are dark red. The fruit is narrow and oval and 1.5-2 cm long.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In East Africa it grows in dry open woodland from 80-1,050 m altitude. In Kenya it grows in regions with a rainfall between 200-600 mm per year. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten raw. They have a bitter taste. They can be cooked with other foods to add flavour. They probably contain oxalates. The bark and branches are used to make tea. The bark of young plants is chewed.

Edible parts

Leaves, bark - tea, stems - tea, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from stem cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Choneh, Cillau, Criau, Dainjo, Danu-sagar, Danu, Dhusundus, Dirraa, Galdayan, Imaim, Inywamanzi, Janau, Jano, Jenau, Jenaw, Jino, Lokimeta, Tirai, Udesi

Synonyms

Commiphora robecchii Engl.;