Commiphora AFRICANA - African myrrh, Poison-grub commiphora, Myrrh, Commiphora africana.
Can be grown in bonsai style!
Commiphora is a genus of multi-stemmed succulent plants in the family Burseraceae, uniting over a hundred species of deciduous shrubs or small trees distributed across Africa, Arabia, Pakistan, India, and Madagascar.
The base of the trunk, which grows up to 4 m (13 ft) in height, often possesses a caudex. The spiny stems branch profusely and have thin, frequently peeling bark. Dense green cotyledonary leaves, simple or consisting of 3 leaflets of lanceolate or cordate shape, reach from 1 to 5 cm (0.4 to 2 in) in length. Leaf blades often have finely serrated margins and pubescence on the upper side.
Plants are dioecious - male and female flowers appear on separate specimens. The flowers are gathered in axillary panicles, white, pink, or red, with 4 petals. When leaves or shoots are damaged, a very pleasant aromatic milky sap is exuded. The aroma varies from resinous and heavy to citrusy and fresh.
After flowering, rounded or slightly oblong fruits are formed, containing only one seed; however, two embryos may be located inside the seed, which becomes apparent only at the germination stage.
African myrrh is a woody or shrubby plant, 1.5-4 m (5-13 ft) tall, with a thick broadened trunk that serves to store moisture during prolonged periods of drought. On slow-growing branches, often covered with thorns, sit small leaflets, frequently imparipinnate, entire or toothed. Leaves are opposite or in clusters, compound, with 1-3 or more leaflets. Leaflets are sessile or subsessile, serrate, crenate, or entire. Flowers are solitary or in clusters of 2-5 or in panicles, small, sessile or subsessile. The calyx is cup-shaped, urceolate, or tubular, 4-toothed or lobed. Petals 4 in number, valvate. Fruits are round, semi-round drupes.