Muluba
Commiphora madagascariensis

Family: Burseraceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 -15 m tall. The bark is smooth and the branches are often spiny. The leaves can have one or 3 leaflets, 2 of these being smaller. The leaflet is 4 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. It is narrowly oval or spoon shaped. There are fine teeth along the edge. The base is wedge shaped. The flowers appear before the leaves. They can be in clusters on short side shoots.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows near lakes and in forest undergrowth. It grows between 5 and 660 m above sea level in areas with an annual rainfall of 750-950 mm

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, East Africa, Ethiopia, India, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Gum, resin

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Umudahweera

Synonyms

Amyris agallocha Roxb.; Amyris commiphora Roxb.; Balsamea agallocha Baill.; Balsamea roxburghii Engl.; Balsamodendrum agallocha Wight & Arn.; Balsamodendrum commiphora Royle; Balsamodendrum roxburghii Arn.; Commiphora agallocha Engl.; Commiphora roxburghii Alston [Illegitimate];