Feather-leaved corkwood
Commiphora kraeuseliana
Family: Burseraceae
What it is like
A shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. The stem is short and swollen and branches several times. The bark is grey-brown and peels off in papery strips. The branches are stout and short and red coloured with a waxy coating. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk with one at the end. They are 2-9 cm long They are in clusters or spirals. They are usually at the ends of shoots. There are 6-8 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are narrow. The flowers are in a spray in the axils of leaves. They are 5 cm long. The flowers are small and yellow. They are of one sex. The fruit is a flattened round berry. It is 2 cm across.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in arid places. It grows in areas with a rainfall below 200 mm per year. In southern Africa it grows between 570-1,350 m above sea level. It can grow in desert. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Namibia, Southern Africa
How it is used for food
The seeds are opened and the soft inner parts eaten.
Edible parts
Seeds
How it is grown
It can be grown from cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
Eu, Omumbungu, Orupembe