Purple-stem corkwood
Commiphora multijuga
Family: Burseraceae
What it is like
A broad leaved tree. It grows 2-8 m high. The bark is smooth and red brown. The leaves are compound. They have leaflets along the stalk and one at the end. They are 3-8 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets droop. They are oval and 1-3 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The leaflets are dark green on both surfaces. Male and female flowers are on separate plants. The flowers are cream or yellow. The petals are curved outwards. The fruit is a round berry. It is 15 mm across.
An edible caterpillar (Usta wallendrenii) eats the leaves.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It cannot tolerate frost. It grows in areas with a marked dry season. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 50-450 mm. It grows on sandy or stony soils. In southern Africa it grows between 100-1,080 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Central Africa, Namibia, Southern Africa
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Stems - drink
How it is grown
It can be cut back and will re-grow.
Its other names
Local names
Omuzumba, Tsans