Commiphora edulis Engl.

Shrub, usually branching from the base though sometimes described as a small tree 2–7–8(–10) m. tall; bark pale grey, smooth; slash dull red or layered red and orange, rather rough; exudate not or but faintly scented, scanty or sometimes more copious and milky; young stems densely pubescent, fluted, 3–4 mm. in diameter.. Leaves densely pubescent beneath, up to 22 cm. long including a petiole of up to 6 cm., 3–9(–11)-foliolate; leaflets up to 7 cm. long and 3 cm. wide on petiolules under 1.5 mm. long.. Flowers greenish yellow, fragrant, appearing just before or with the young leaves.. Inflorescence densely pubescent, the ♂ a narrow spiciform interrupted panicle consisting of clusters of cymes on an axis up to 15 cm. long including a peduncle up to 35 mm. long; bracts linear-lanceolate, up to 4 mm.; pedicels 1–3 mm. long; receptacle cup-shaped, ± 0.8 mm. wide and deep; calyx densely pubescent, ± 2 mm. long, divided ± halfway into acute ovate lobes; petals oblong, glabrous, 4–5 mm. long; filaments 3 and 2 mm., anthers 0.7 and 0.6 mm. long. Female inflorescence much shorter, under 25 mm. long.. Fruit-stalk 10–20(–60) mm. long of which the pedicel is under 2 mm.; fruit pubescent, elliptic-ovoid, ± 20 × 8 × (7 + 8) mm.; pericarp 2-valved, very fleshy, ± 3 mm. thick; pseudaril cupular, with 4 broadly triangular lobes; stone smooth, ellipsoid, gently rounded on both sides, ± 15 × 9 × (2 + 3–4) mm.

It is a tropical plant. It grows in hot arid places where there is a marked dry season. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall or 500-800 mm. It grows in well-drained sandy soils. In southern Africa it grows between 450-1,500 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

The fruit is edible but not attractive.

Plants can be grown from seeds. It can be grown from large cuttings. It can be cut back and it will re-grow.