Commiphora
Systematics and taxonomy
Systematics and taxonomy
------------------------

Recent studies using [DNA sequence](/wiki/DNA_sequence "DNA sequence") data have confirmed the [monophyly](/wiki/Monophyly "Monophyly") of *Commiphora*;Weeks, A., et al. 2005\. The phylogenetic history and biogeography of the frankincense and myrrh family (Burseraceae) based on nuclear and chloroplast sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 35:85–101\. however, this data suggests that previous classification of the genus into sections does not reflect monophyletic interspecific relationships.

### Species

181 species are accepted:
* *[Commiphora acuminata](/wiki/Commiphora_acuminata "Commiphora acuminata")* 
* *[Commiphora africana](/wiki/Commiphora_africana "Commiphora africana")* (A.Rich.) Engl. (syn. *Heudelotia africana*), sometimes identified with ancient [bdellium](/wiki/Bdellium "Bdellium"). Used indirectly by the [San bushmen](/wiki/Bushmen "Bushmen") to poison their arrow tips for hunting 
* *[Commiphora alata](/wiki/Commiphora_alata "Commiphora alata")* 
* *[Commiphora alaticaulis](/wiki/Commiphora_alaticaulis "Commiphora alaticaulis")* J.B.Gillett \& [Vollesen](/wiki/Kaj_Borge_Vollesen "Kaj Borge Vollesen")
* *[Commiphora anacardiifolia](/wiki/Commiphora_anacardiifolia "Commiphora anacardiifolia")* 
* *[Commiphora andranovoryensis](/wiki/Commiphora_andranovoryensis "Commiphora andranovoryensis")* 
* *[Commiphora angolensis](/wiki/Commiphora_angolensis "Commiphora angolensis")* Engl., also known as "sand commiphora", growing mainly in [Angola](/wiki/Angola "Angola") and [Namibia](/wiki/Namibia "Namibia")
* *[Commiphora angustifoliolata](/wiki/Commiphora_angustifoliolata "Commiphora angustifoliolata")* 
* *[Commiphora ankaranensis](/wiki/Commiphora_ankaranensis "Commiphora ankaranensis")* 
* *[Commiphora antunesii](/wiki/Commiphora_antunesii "Commiphora antunesii")* 
* *[Commiphora aprevalii](/wiki/Commiphora_aprevalii "Commiphora aprevalii")* Guillaumin, endemic to [Madagascar](/wiki/Madagascar "Madagascar")
* *[Commiphora arafy](/wiki/Commiphora_arafy "Commiphora arafy")* 
* *[Commiphora arenaria](/wiki/Commiphora_arenaria "Commiphora arenaria")* 
* *[Commiphora baluensis](/wiki/Commiphora_baluensis "Commiphora baluensis")* 
* *[Commiphora benguelensis](/wiki/Commiphora_benguelensis "Commiphora benguelensis")* 
* *[Commiphora berardellii](/wiki/Commiphora_berardellii "Commiphora berardellii")* 
* *[Commiphora berryi](/wiki/Commiphora_berryi "Commiphora berryi")* 
* *[Commiphora boranensis](/wiki/Commiphora_boranensis "Commiphora boranensis")* [Vollesen](/wiki/Kaj_Borge_Vollesen "Kaj Borge Vollesen")
* *[Commiphora brevicalyx](/wiki/Commiphora_brevicalyx "Commiphora brevicalyx")* 
* *[Commiphora buruxa](/wiki/Commiphora_buruxa "Commiphora buruxa")* 
* *[Commiphora caerulea](/wiki/Commiphora_caerulea "Commiphora caerulea")* 
* *[Commiphora campestris](/wiki/Commiphora_campestris "Commiphora campestris")* 
* *[Commiphora capensis](/wiki/Commiphora_capensis "Commiphora capensis")* 
* *[Commiphora capuronii](/wiki/Commiphora_capuronii "Commiphora capuronii")* 
* *[Commiphora caudata](/wiki/Commiphora_caudata "Commiphora caudata")* (Wight \& Arn.) Engl.
* *[Commiphora cervifolia](/wiki/Commiphora_cervifolia "Commiphora cervifolia")* 
* *[Commiphora chaetocarpa](/wiki/Commiphora_chaetocarpa "Commiphora chaetocarpa")* 
* *[Commiphora chevalieri](/wiki/Commiphora_chevalieri "Commiphora chevalieri")* 
* *[Commiphora chiovendana](/wiki/Commiphora_chiovendana "Commiphora chiovendana")* 
* *[Commiphora ciliata](/wiki/Commiphora_ciliata "Commiphora ciliata")* [Vollesen](/wiki/Kaj_Borge_Vollesen "Kaj Borge Vollesen")
* *[Commiphora coleopsis](/wiki/Commiphora_coleopsis "Commiphora coleopsis")* 
* *[Commiphora confusa](/wiki/Commiphora_confusa "Commiphora confusa")* [Vollesen](/wiki/Kaj_Borge_Vollesen "Kaj Borge Vollesen")
* *[Commiphora corrugata](/wiki/Commiphora_corrugata "Commiphora corrugata")* J.B.Gillett \& [Vollesen](/wiki/Kaj_Borge_Vollesen "Kaj Borge Vollesen")
* *[Commiphora crenatoserrata](/wiki/Commiphora_crenatoserrata "Commiphora crenatoserrata")* 
* *[Commiphora cuneifolia](/wiki/Commiphora_cuneifolia "Commiphora cuneifolia")* 
* *[Commiphora cyclophylla](/wiki/Commiphora_cyclophylla "Commiphora cyclophylla")* 
* *[Commiphora dalzielii](/wiki/Commiphora_dalzielii "Commiphora dalzielii")* 
* *[Commiphora dinteri](/wiki/Commiphora_dinteri "Commiphora dinteri")* 
* *[Commiphora discolor](/wiki/Commiphora_discolor "Commiphora discolor")* 
* *[Commiphora drake\-brockmanii](/wiki/Commiphora_drake-brockmanii "Commiphora drake-brockmanii")* 
* *[Commiphora dulcis](/wiki/Commiphora_dulcis "Commiphora dulcis")* 
* *[Commiphora edulis](/wiki/Commiphora_edulis "Commiphora edulis")* 
* *[Commiphora elliptica](/wiki/Commiphora_elliptica "Commiphora elliptica")* 
* *[Commiphora eminii](/wiki/Commiphora_eminii "Commiphora eminii")* 
* *[Commiphora engleri](/wiki/Commiphora_engleri "Commiphora engleri")* 
* *[Commiphora enneaphylla](/wiki/Commiphora_enneaphylla "Commiphora enneaphylla")* 
* *[Commiphora erlangeriana](/wiki/Commiphora_erlangeriana "Commiphora erlangeriana")* 
* *[Commiphora erosa](/wiki/Commiphora_erosa "Commiphora erosa")* [Vollesen](/wiki/Kaj_Borge_Vollesen "Kaj Borge Vollesen")
* *[Commiphora falcata](/wiki/Commiphora_falcata "Commiphora falcata")* 
* *[Commiphora foliacea](/wiki/Commiphora_foliacea "Commiphora foliacea")* 
* *[Commiphora franciscana](/wiki/Commiphora_franciscana "Commiphora franciscana")* 
* *[Commiphora fraxinifolia](/wiki/Commiphora_fraxinifolia "Commiphora fraxinifolia")* 
* *[Commiphora fraxinoides](/wiki/Commiphora_fraxinoides "Commiphora fraxinoides")* 
* *[Commiphora fulvotomentosa](/wiki/Commiphora_fulvotomentosa "Commiphora fulvotomentosa")* 
* *[Commiphora gardoensis](/wiki/Commiphora_gardoensis "Commiphora gardoensis")* 
* *[Commiphora gariepensis](/wiki/Commiphora_gariepensis "Commiphora gariepensis")* 
* *[Commiphora giessii](/wiki/Commiphora_giessii "Commiphora giessii")* 
* *[Commiphora gileadensis](/wiki/Commiphora_gileadensis "Commiphora gileadensis")* (L.) C.Chr. (syn. *Commiphora opobalsamum*), producing [balsam of Mecca](/wiki/Balsam_of_Mecca "Balsam of Mecca").
* *[Commiphora glandulosa](/wiki/Commiphora_glandulosa "Commiphora glandulosa")* Schinz
* *[Commiphora glaucescens](/wiki/Commiphora_glaucescens "Commiphora glaucescens")* 
* *[Commiphora gorinii](/wiki/Commiphora_gorinii "Commiphora gorinii")* 
* *[Commiphora gracilifrondosa](/wiki/Commiphora_gracilifrondosa "Commiphora gracilifrondosa")* 
* *[Commiphora grandifolia](/wiki/Commiphora_grandifolia "Commiphora grandifolia")* 
* *[Commiphora grosswelleri](/wiki/Commiphora_grosswelleri "Commiphora grosswelleri")* 
* *[Commiphora guerichiania](/wiki/Commiphora_guerichiania "Commiphora guerichiania")* 
* *[Commiphora guidottii](/wiki/Commiphora_guidottii "Commiphora guidottii")* Chiov. ex Guid. (syn. *Commiphora sessiliflora*), producing *habak hadi*, known as [bisabol](/wiki/Bisabol "Bisabol"), [opoponax](/wiki/Opopanax_%28perfumery%29 "Opopanax (perfumery)"), scented or sweet myrrh.
* *[Commiphora guillauminii](/wiki/Commiphora_guillauminii "Commiphora guillauminii")* 
* *[Commiphora gurreh](/wiki/Commiphora_gurreh "Commiphora gurreh")* 
* *[Commiphora hartmannii](/wiki/Commiphora_hartmannii "Commiphora hartmannii")* 
* *[Commiphora harveyi](/wiki/Commiphora_harveyi "Commiphora harveyi")* (Engl.) Engl.
* *[Commiphora hereroensis](/wiki/Commiphora_hereroensis "Commiphora hereroensis")* 
* *[Commiphora hildebrandtii](/wiki/Commiphora_hildebrandtii "Commiphora hildebrandtii")* 
* *[Commiphora hodai](/wiki/Commiphora_hodai "Commiphora hodai")* 
* *[Commiphora hornbyi](/wiki/Commiphora_hornbyi "Commiphora hornbyi")* 
* *[Commiphora horrida](/wiki/Commiphora_horrida "Commiphora horrida")* 
* *[Commiphora humbertii](/wiki/Commiphora_humbertii "Commiphora humbertii")* H.Perrier
* *[Commiphora kaokoensis](/wiki/Commiphora_kaokoensis "Commiphora kaokoensis")* 
* *[Commiphora karibensis](/wiki/Commiphora_karibensis "Commiphora karibensis")* 
* *[Commiphora kataf](/wiki/Commiphora_kataf "Commiphora kataf")* (Forssk.) Engl.(syn. *Commiphora holtziana* Engl, *Commiphora erythraea* (Ehrenb.) Engl.), producing *habak hagar*, known as sweet myrrh, sometimes sold as opoponax.
* *[Commiphora kerstingii](/wiki/Commiphora_kerstingii "Commiphora kerstingii")* 
* *[Commiphora kraeuseliana](/wiki/Commiphora_kraeuseliana "Commiphora kraeuseliana")* 
* *[Commiphora kua](/wiki/Commiphora_kua "Commiphora kua")* ([R.Br.](/wiki/Robert_Brown_%28botanist%2C_born_1773%29 "Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)") ex [Royle](/wiki/John_Forbes_Royle "John Forbes Royle")) [Vollesen](/wiki/Kaj_Borge_Vollesen "Kaj Borge Vollesen") (syn. *Commiphora habessinica* (O.Berg) Engl.)
* *[Commiphora kucharii](/wiki/Commiphora_kucharii "Commiphora kucharii")* 
* *[Commiphora kuneneana](/wiki/Commiphora_kuneneana "Commiphora kuneneana")* 
* *[Commiphora lacerata](/wiki/Commiphora_lacerata "Commiphora lacerata")* 
* *[Commiphora lamii](/wiki/Commiphora_lamii "Commiphora lamii")* 
* *[Commiphora lasiodisca](/wiki/Commiphora_lasiodisca "Commiphora lasiodisca")* 
* *[Commiphora laxecymigera](/wiki/Commiphora_laxecymigera "Commiphora laxecymigera")* 
* *[Commiphora leandriana](/wiki/Commiphora_leandriana "Commiphora leandriana")* 
* *[Commiphora leptophloeos](/wiki/Commiphora_leptophloeos "Commiphora leptophloeos")* (Mart.) J.B.Gillett, the only species of *Commiphora* present in the Americas.
* *[Commiphora lobatospathulata](/wiki/Commiphora_lobatospathulata "Commiphora lobatospathulata")* 
* *[Commiphora longibracteata](/wiki/Commiphora_longibracteata "Commiphora longibracteata")* 
* *[Commiphora madagascariensis](/wiki/Commiphora_madagascariensis "Commiphora madagascariensis")* Jacq.
* *[Commiphora mafaidoha](/wiki/Commiphora_mafaidoha "Commiphora mafaidoha")* [TRANS\-MAD Development Parc National de Kirindy\-Mite](https://protectedareas.mg/document/show/206602)
* *[Commiphora mahafaliensis](/wiki/Commiphora_mahafaliensis "Commiphora mahafaliensis")* 
* *[Commiphora marchandii](/wiki/Commiphora_marchandii "Commiphora marchandii")* 
* *[Commiphora marlothii](/wiki/Commiphora_marlothii "Commiphora marlothii")* 
* *[Commiphora merkeri](/wiki/Commiphora_merkeri "Commiphora merkeri")* 
* *[Commiphora merkii](/wiki/Commiphora_merkii "Commiphora merkii")* 
* *[Commiphora mildbraedii](/wiki/Commiphora_mildbraedii "Commiphora mildbraedii")* 
* *[Commiphora mollis](/wiki/Commiphora_mollis "Commiphora mollis")* 
* *[Commiphora mombassensis](/wiki/Commiphora_mombassensis "Commiphora mombassensis")* 
* *[Commiphora monoica](/wiki/Commiphora_monoica "Commiphora monoica")* [Vollesen](/wiki/Kaj_Borge_Vollesen "Kaj Borge Vollesen")
* *[Commiphora monstruosa](/wiki/Commiphora_monstruosa "Commiphora monstruosa")* 
* *[Commiphora morondavensis](/wiki/Commiphora_morondavensis "Commiphora morondavensis")* 
* *[Commiphora mossambicensis](/wiki/Commiphora_mossambicensis "Commiphora mossambicensis")* (Oliv.) Engl.
* *[Commiphora mossamedensis](/wiki/Commiphora_mossamedensis "Commiphora mossamedensis")* 
* *[Commiphora mulelame](/wiki/Commiphora_mulelame "Commiphora mulelame")* 
* *[Commiphora multifoliolata](/wiki/Commiphora_multifoliolata "Commiphora multifoliolata")* 
* *[Commiphora multijuga](/wiki/Commiphora_multijuga "Commiphora multijuga")* 
* *[Commiphora murraywatsonii](/wiki/Commiphora_murraywatsonii "Commiphora murraywatsonii")* 
* *[Commiphora myrrha](/wiki/Commiphora_myrrha "Commiphora myrrha")* (Nees) Engl. (syn. *Commiphora molmol*), producing [myrrh](/wiki/Myrrh "Myrrh").
* *[Commiphora namaensis](/wiki/Commiphora_namaensis "Commiphora namaensis")* 
* *[Commiphora namibensis](/wiki/Commiphora_namibensis "Commiphora namibensis")* 
* *[Commiphora neglecta](/wiki/Commiphora_neglecta "Commiphora neglecta")* 
* *[Commiphora oblanceolata](/wiki/Commiphora_oblanceolata "Commiphora oblanceolata")* 
* *[Commiphora oblongifolia](/wiki/Commiphora_oblongifolia "Commiphora oblongifolia")* 
* *[Commiphora obovata](/wiki/Commiphora_obovata "Commiphora obovata")* 
* *[Commiphora oddurensis](/wiki/Commiphora_oddurensis "Commiphora oddurensis")* 
* *[Commiphora omundomba](/wiki/Commiphora_omundomba "Commiphora omundomba")* 
* *[Commiphora orbicularis](/wiki/Commiphora_orbicularis "Commiphora orbicularis")* 
* *[Commiphora ornifolia](/wiki/Commiphora_ornifolia "Commiphora ornifolia")* 
* *[Commiphora otjihipana](/wiki/Commiphora_otjihipana "Commiphora otjihipana")* 
* *[Commiphora ovalifolia](/wiki/Commiphora_ovalifolia "Commiphora ovalifolia")* 
* *[Commiphora paolii](/wiki/Commiphora_paolii "Commiphora paolii")* 
* *[Commiphora parvifolia](/wiki/Commiphora_parvifolia "Commiphora parvifolia")* 
* *[Commiphora pedunculata](/wiki/Commiphora_pedunculata "Commiphora pedunculata")* 
* *[Commiphora pervilleana](/wiki/Commiphora_pervilleana "Commiphora pervilleana")* 
* *[Commiphora planifrons](/wiki/Commiphora_planifrons "Commiphora planifrons")* 
* *[Commiphora playfairii](/wiki/Commiphora_playfairii "Commiphora playfairii")* 
* *[Commiphora pruinosa](/wiki/Commiphora_pruinosa "Commiphora pruinosa")* 
* *[Commiphora pseudopaolii](/wiki/Commiphora_pseudopaolii "Commiphora pseudopaolii")* 
* *[Commiphora pteleifolia](/wiki/Commiphora_pteleifolia "Commiphora pteleifolia")* 
* *[Commiphora pterocarpa](/wiki/Commiphora_pterocarpa "Commiphora pterocarpa")* 
* *[Commiphora pyracanthoides](/wiki/Commiphora_pyracanthoides "Commiphora pyracanthoides")* 
* *[Commiphora quadricincta](/wiki/Commiphora_quadricincta "Commiphora quadricincta")* 
* *[Commiphora quercifoliola](/wiki/Commiphora_quercifoliola "Commiphora quercifoliola")* 
* *[Commiphora rangeana](/wiki/Commiphora_rangeana "Commiphora rangeana")* 
* *[Commiphora razakamalalae](/wiki/Commiphora_razakamalalae "Commiphora razakamalalae")* 
* *[Commiphora rostrata](/wiki/Commiphora_rostrata "Commiphora rostrata")* 
* *[Commiphora ruquietiana](/wiki/Commiphora_ruquietiana "Commiphora ruquietiana")* 
* *[Commiphora ruspolii](/wiki/Commiphora_ruspolii "Commiphora ruspolii")* 
* *[Commiphora samharensis](/wiki/Commiphora_samharensis "Commiphora samharensis")* 
* *[Commiphora sarandensis](/wiki/Commiphora_sarandensis "Commiphora sarandensis")* 
* *[Commiphora saxicola](/wiki/Commiphora_saxicola "Commiphora saxicola")* Engl., Rock corkwood, a shrub endemic to Namibia
* *[Commiphora schimperi](/wiki/Commiphora_schimperi "Commiphora schimperi")* (O.Bergman) Engl.
* *[Commiphora schlechteri](/wiki/Commiphora_schlechteri "Commiphora schlechteri")* 
* *[Commiphora schultzei](/wiki/Commiphora_schultzei "Commiphora schultzei")* 
* *[Commiphora sennii](/wiki/Commiphora_sennii "Commiphora sennii")* 
* *[Commiphora serrata](/wiki/Commiphora_serrata "Commiphora serrata")* 
* *[Commiphora serrulata](/wiki/Commiphora_serrulata "Commiphora serrulata")* 
* *[Commiphora setulifera](/wiki/Commiphora_setulifera "Commiphora setulifera")* 
* *[Commiphora simplicifolia](/wiki/Commiphora_simplicifolia "Commiphora simplicifolia")* H.Perrier
* *[Commiphora sinuata](/wiki/Commiphora_sinuata "Commiphora sinuata")* 
* *[Commiphora socotrana](/wiki/Commiphora_socotrana "Commiphora socotrana")* (Balf.f.) Engl.
* *[Commiphora spathulata](/wiki/Commiphora_spathulata "Commiphora spathulata")* 
* *[Commiphora spathulifoliolata](/wiki/Commiphora_spathulifoliolata "Commiphora spathulifoliolata")* 
* *[Commiphora sphaerocarpa](/wiki/Commiphora_sphaerocarpa "Commiphora sphaerocarpa")* Chiov
* *[Commiphora spinulosa](/wiki/Commiphora_spinulosa "Commiphora spinulosa")* 
* *[Commiphora staphyleifolia](/wiki/Commiphora_staphyleifolia "Commiphora staphyleifolia")* 
* *[Commiphora stellatopubescens](/wiki/Commiphora_stellatopubescens "Commiphora stellatopubescens")* 
* *[Commiphora stellulata](/wiki/Commiphora_stellulata "Commiphora stellulata")* 
* *[Commiphora steynii](/wiki/Commiphora_steynii "Commiphora steynii")* 
* *[Commiphora stocksiana](/wiki/Commiphora_stocksiana "Commiphora stocksiana")* (Engl.) Engl., known in Pakistan as *bayisa gugal*
* *[Commiphora sulcata](/wiki/Commiphora_sulcata "Commiphora sulcata")* 
* *[Commiphora swynnertonii](/wiki/Commiphora_swynnertonii "Commiphora swynnertonii")* 
* *[Commiphora tenuipetiolata](/wiki/Commiphora_tenuipetiolata "Commiphora tenuipetiolata")* 
* *[Commiphora tetramera](/wiki/Commiphora_tetramera "Commiphora tetramera")* 
* *[Commiphora truncata](/wiki/Commiphora_truncata "Commiphora truncata")* 
* *[Commiphora tsimanampetsae](/wiki/Commiphora_tsimanampetsae "Commiphora tsimanampetsae")* 
* *[Commiphora ugogensis](/wiki/Commiphora_ugogensis "Commiphora ugogensis")* 
* *[Commiphora ulugurensis](/wiki/Commiphora_ulugurensis "Commiphora ulugurensis")* 
* *[Commiphora unilobata](/wiki/Commiphora_unilobata "Commiphora unilobata")* J.B.Gillett \& [Vollesen](/wiki/Kaj_Borge_Vollesen "Kaj Borge Vollesen")
* *[Commiphora viminea](/wiki/Commiphora_viminea "Commiphora viminea")* 
* *[Commiphora virgata](/wiki/Commiphora_virgata "Commiphora virgata")* 
* *[Commiphora wightii](/wiki/Commiphora_wightii "Commiphora wightii")* (Arn.) Bhandari (syn. *Commiphora mukul*), producing [gum guggul](/wiki/Commiphora_wightii "Commiphora wightii"), sometimes identified with ancient [bdellium](/wiki/Bdellium "Bdellium").
* *[Commiphora wildii](/wiki/Commiphora_wildii "Commiphora wildii")* 
* *[Commiphora woodii](/wiki/Commiphora_woodii "Commiphora woodii")* 
* *[Commiphora zanzibarica](/wiki/Commiphora_zanzibarica "Commiphora zanzibarica")* 


Is Commiphora viminea used as a natural dye for fabrics?