Christmas Plants

Myrrh

Myrrh is a yellowish-red sweet-smelling resin. It oozes from damaged bark of certain trees in the genus Commiphora. The major commercial source is Commiphora myrrha. The resin gums up the mouthparts of attacking insects such as termites and its antibiotic properties protect the trees against infection through wounds in their bark. Ancient Egyptians used the resin to preserve mummies - its antibiotic qualities reduced decay, it helped to prevent the tissues falling apart, and it smelt sweet.

Commiphora trees are found in the bushland that covers the drier parts of tropical Africa, Arabia, Madagascar and India. Large areas of bush have been cleared for cultivation, firewood, building materials or animal fodder. Without the trees, wind and rain erode the underlying soil, producing infertile sub-desert. However, if protected, many native plants, including myrrh, could provide valuable crops of oils, gums and resins.

See also

Christmas trees

Festive foods

More plants

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