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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
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