COMMIPHORA HABESSINICA

This member of the Burseraceae family was given this name by Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler in 1883. It is found in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi, Oman, Tanzania and Yemen, growing in a well drained soil with some water and lots of sun. The stem can grow to 20 centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to six metres in height. The flowers are from pale yellow to red. There are quite some sources that list quite some synonyms. Kaj Børge Vollesen kept it as a separate species. And the plant seems to change throughout it habitat: From small scrub with tiny leaves in dry areas to six metre trees with large leaves in monsoon areas. The genera name from Greek kommi; 'gum' and Greek - phoros; 'carrying' for the balsam-like scented resin. The species name refers to Abyssinia; the old name for Yemen.