Commiphora africana (A.Rich.) Endl.
Balsamea africana Baill., Balsamodendrum africanum Arn., C. calciicola Engl., Heudelotia africana A.Rich., C. pilosa (Engl.) Engl.
Eng.: African myrrh. Spa.: Mirra africana. Ára.: Adras. Mandinga: Barakanti.
Small tree or shrub 3-5 m in height, with branches that often end in spines. Bark smooth, grey-greenish, with a shiny surface, reddish when damaged, which is common because its wounds exude abundant “bdellium” or “myrrh”, an edible aromatic resin. Leaves compound, trifoliolate, with spatulate leaflets with crenate margins, pleasantly aromatic when crushed. Terminal leaflet larger than the lateral ones; all leaflets are dentate, as in most species of the genus. Flowers pedicellate, red or purple, 5-8 mm, with 4 petals and 8 stamens (4 long and 4 short). Ovary bilocular, with 2 ovules in each locule and a short style. Fruits reddish, about 6-8 mm, that open when ripe, releasing a hard, black seed. Seed with a pseudo-aril or fleshy mericarp reminiscent of 4 red fingers, similar to a mounted gemstone in a ring.
Flowering:
July to September.
Fruiting:
August to October.
Habitat:
Sandy soils.
Distribution:
Sub-Saharan Africa. Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Eritrea and Sudan. Towards the N, it apears scattered up to the Tinduf Hamada, in the western end of Algeria, and through the Red Sea up to the southeastern edge of Egypt.
Observations:
This tree is extremely sensitive to atmospheric moisture, reacting rapidly at the first sign of winds laden with moisture. It is the first plant to sprout with the arrival of the wet season, and remains very green during the rainy season. It is able to complete one life cycle in a short period of time. The leaves are promptly lost as soon as the rainy season ends, with a period when the leaves have a nice golden colour. New leaves are highly appreciated by camels and goats, especially at the beginning of the dry season.
Conservation status:
Rare species with a small distribution area. Currently, it has not been assessed at a global level in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.