Commiphora caudata is an unarmed deciduous shrub or small tree with papery bark. Leaves are compound; leaflets usually of 3-5, ovate or elliptic, glabrous, apex acute or typically acuminate. The leaflets are terminal and long petioled. The small flowers are borne in a long-peduncled paniculate dichasium up to 10 cm long; calyx glabrous, petals brownish-red, 0.5 cm long. The fruit is a sub globose drupe and 1.2 cm in diameter. Commiphora caudata is important for its medicinal properties. The bark and leaves yield a gum-resin which is used to prepare medicines in southern India. An extract of the stem bark has been found to possess antiviral properties. This article is a stub. You can enrich by adding more information to it. Send your Write Up to content@indianetzone.com |