Commiphora glaucescens Engl.

A bush or small tree. It can grow up to 6-10 m tall. The bark is pale brown to bluish. It peels off in round flakes. The young branches are greenish yellow and smooth. The leaves have only one leaflet. They are green with shades of blue. They are often covered with a waxy bloom. Leaves are 2.5-5 cm long and 1.3-3 cm wide. The leaf shape varies. The leaves are crowded at the ends of small branches. The leaves turn yellow and red before they fall. The flowers are small and yellowish-green. The fruit are round a and about 1.3 cm long. The seeds have a slightly fleshy layer around them. They are reported to be edible.

A tropical plant. It is often in hills and mountain slopes on red sandy soil. They are usually in rocky places in arid or semi-desert areas. It cannot tolerate frost. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 100-500 mm per year. In southern Africa it grows between 550-1,500 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

The stems are chewed for moisture. The fruit are eaten.

Can be grown by seedlings.