| DESCRIPTION: It is a deciduous tree reaching 5-10 m in height with a spherical top and a short trunk with low branches. Crown is rounded, with the branches ascending and then curving downwards. Leaves trifoliate, leaflets cuneate at the base and with irregular and bluntly toothed margins, waxy grey-green above with a sparse covering of hairs, lighter in colour and more densely hairy below, up to 4 x 2.5 cm, the middle leaflet larger than laterals. USE: Roots of young plants are juicy with a mildly sweet taste and can be chewed. The gum is also eaten and the bark is brewed to make a red tea. The leaves are browsed by livestock, especially camels and goats, at the end of the dry season when the tree comes into leaf. It is of outstanding importance for many nomadic herdsmen in the northern parts of the Sahel. Fruits are chewed or pounded and used against toothache and diseases of the gum. It is suitable for planting for live fences and hedges. GROWING PERIOD: Perennial. COMMON NAMES: African myrrh. FURTHER INF: A widespread species, although its range and ecology is somewhat obscured by taxonomic confusion. It is common in Acacia-Commiphora bushland and is normally found in dry savannahs and in the Sahel. Occurs in a wide range of soil types including red dolerite, sand, rocky escarpments, boulders, clays, and lateritic crusts. It appears to grow best on calcareous soils, sands, red clay and sandy clay the Sahel. It is fire and fairly termite resistant. |