Commiphora kua (R. Br. ex Royle) Vollesen

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Abyssinian Myrrh
Yemen Myrrh
Myrrh resin

In Omani studies: Miller & Morris (1988) wrote that: "Medicinally, the greatest value of this tree lay in its resin, called in [J: tubk a okor], which exudes in small lumps from the sapwood [J: bode] of the trunk and larger branches in the hot season. This red-coloured gum was collected and stored for future use. When needed, a small quantity was melted over a slow fire. The resultant sticky liquid was then painted over the area to be treated: over swollen glands, for instance, such as those caused by tonsilitis [J: halbol], from an infected ear [J: inkif], a swollen gland [J: rebbot] in the groin or armpit caused by an infected wound, for example, or over the entire chest as a remedy for pneumonia, pleuritic pain [J: gise], breathing difficulties [J: kefes], and so on. Warmed lumps of resin, or pieces of very fresh resin were also used ... as a depilatory or as an adhesive. A young plant could be dug up and the root peeled and then chewed. A fresh-testing and sweet liquid results which is thirst-quenching and satisying. A root used in this way is called in J: mizgot. The root of this species was considered to have the best flavour of all the commiphoras, the second best being that from C. gileadensis, and the third the root of a young frankincense sapling, called in J: teli. After summer rainstorms, or during the season following the monsoon rains, even adult trees produce a sugary liquid: their branches can be cut in cross sections and gnawed and sucked like the sugar can grown on the Salalah plain and sold in the market. Only the 'male' commiphoras are suitable for this, as they are said to absorb more moisture than the 'female' trees, which are the ones which bear the most fruit. Sections of branches cut in this way are called fizod z okor. The fruit, called in J: ferrit, were gathered for eating only once the single seed inside the fruit had ripened, which did not happen every year. If the seed was seen to be ripe, the fruit were collected and eaten in great quantities, peeled and with the seed removed, and were considered to be a good food. If eaten while at all unripe however they are astonishingly bitter and acrid-testing and can cause vomiting. Goats eating the fruit give very sweet and copious milk. This tree was regarded as being a great haunt of snakes, as were the Maytenus and Adenium obesum species, which likewise were approached with caution, staff at the ready. In earlier times this tree was very important as a source of building materials, mainly due to its ability to survive being cut and transplanted. For this to be successful a tree had to be selected which was still in vigorous green leaf at the end of the dry season, one which was still producing resin, and then at the very end of the dry season it was cut right through at the very base of the trunk just above the root system. It was then transported to the required new site, and lowered into a prepared hole to await the coming of the rains, when it would put out roots and provide a firm base and foundation for the walls of the planned pen or shelter. The trunk of the parent tree would also sprout again, so in effect, one tree had become two. The living wood of this tree is very strong, and the pens and human and animal shelters built from the transplanted trees lasted from year to year. However, as dead or dry wood it was regarded as providing very inferior firewood, being too 'soft' [J: rguz], and producing a lot of unpleasant smoke. The wood of this tree provided however one of the most reliable tinders - a vital piece of equipment, especially during the wet season when most of the wood was damp and a reliable source of tinder consequently became important. The dead wood was broken open and the white, crumbly and powdery interior exposed. This was collected, roughly broken up, and kept in a leather pouch. It lit at the first spark of the flint and striker, and burned slowly. It was called nuxs z okor in Jibbali. The resin produced by this species is also called mirr locally, and was used in the same way as was the more costly and less available true myrrh, usually imported from the Yemen". (Ref. Plants of Dhofar). In addition, Ghazanfar (2007) mentioned that: "C. kua has been used in traditional medicine for diabetes, childbirth and pus extraction, in the eastern Hajar region of northern Oman smoke from burnt stems is used for clearing homes of snakes. Ripe fruits are edible". (Ref. Flora of Oman; vol.2).

*Ghazanfar, S. (2007). Flora of the Sultanate of Oman, vol.2: Crassulaceae – Apiaceae. Meise, National Botanic Garden of Belgium (Scripta Botanica Begica, Vol. 36). ISBN 9789072619747 ISSN 0779-2387. *https://en.wikipedia.org *http://www.bihrmann.com *Miller, A., Morris, M. (1988). Plants of Dhofar, the Southern Region of Oman: Traditional, Economic, and Medicinal Uses. Published by Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Sultanate of Oman; ISBN 10: 0715708082 ISSN 13: 9780715708088. *POWO (2023). ""Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org