Edible Plants of the World

African myrrh

African myrrh

A tropical plant. It favours low dry woodland. It grows on sandy flats or rocky ridges. In East Africa it grows between 50 and 1,800 m altitude. In Kenya it grows in regions with a rainfall between 400-1,000 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. It grows in the Sahel. It grows in Miombo woodland. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Also known as:

Agarat, Anqua, Dashi, Dedeck, Ekadeli, Ekadili, Etopojo, Gafal, Hairy corkwood, Horgoog, Iminyela, Inchone, Itula, Kabi, Khobo, Khozyo, Kidirigheta, Kitungu, Liminyela, Mbambara, Mogorokoko, Morophaphiri, Msilale, Mtono, Mturituri, Mubvuka, Muchabobo, Mugugudo, Mugugudu, Mukwendekwende, Munyera, Mutungu, Naamo, Orido, Osilalei, Poison-grub commiphora, Qahitta, Siponda, Tchindjove, Togoria, Za, Zanzachenana

Synonyms

Edible Portion

Where does African myrrh grow?

Found in: Africa, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahel, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are about 165-190 Commiphora species. They are common in Africa.

Status: The roots are especially eaten by children.

Growing African myrrh

Cultivation: It can be grown from seeds or cuttings. It can be grown from stakes. It can be planted as a live hedge.

Edible Uses: The centre of the roots is eaten when food is scarce. It is eaten raw. It is sweet. Bark is used to make a tea. The young fruit is eaten raw. Caution: The leaves are eaten but may contain poisons. They are cooked with potash and groundnuts.

Production: It flowers and fruit throughout much of the year in Ethiopia. The rootstock is collected during the rainy season.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part Energy (kcal) Protein (g) Iron (mg) Vitamin A (ug) Vitamin c (mg) Zinc (mg) % Water
- - - - - -

African myrrh Photos

African myrrh African myrrh

References

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