Zanzibar commiphora, Pendulous-fruited commiphora
Commiphora zanzibarica

Family: Burseraceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It grows up to 12 m high. The leaves have 3-4 pairs of leaflets and one at the end. The leaflets are 9.5 cm long by 3 cm wide. The flowers are small and creamy-green. They are in large loose heads. These can be 25 cm long. The fruit are large. They are 1.6 cm long by 0.9 cm wide. They hang downwards. They are brownish-red when mature. The stone has a fleshy, cup shaped false seed layer.

There are about 165 Commiphora species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in low altitude river valleys and in coastal thickets. It grows in ht dry places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Niporari, Xintico

Synonyms

Commiphora spondioides Engl.;