Product Description
Commiphora monstruosa is a rare and highly desirable pachycaul tree endemic to the spiny forests and dry deciduous habitats of southwestern Madagascar, where it grows on rocky limestone soils in seasonally arid conditions. A member of the Burseraceae family (the same family that gives us frankincense and myrrh), the species is prized by collectors for its extraordinarily sculptural growth habit, with a thick, swollen, water-storing trunk that develops irregular knobs, swellings, and contorted branching patterns that give the species its evocative name. The bark is smooth, papery, and pale gray to silvery-greenish, exfoliating in thin sheets to reveal fresh tissue beneath, a hallmark of the genus. Small compound leaves emerge during the warm growing season, dropping reliably in the dry season to expose the dramatic bare trunk and branches.
When the bark is wounded or the leaves are brushed, Commiphora monstruosa releases a fragrant resin and essential oil with the sharp, balsamic character typical of the genus, which has historically given the family enormous cultural and economic importance. Small inconspicuous flowers appear in spring or with new growth, typically pale cream to greenish-white, borne in small clusters. As with most Commiphora species, the plants are dioecious, with male and female flowers borne on separate individuals, so cross-pollination between two plants is generally required for seed production. Pollinated female flowers develop into small drupes containing a single seed partly enclosed by a brightly colored aril. In cultivation, the species requires full sun to very bright light, warm temperatures, and an exceptionally fast-draining mineral soil mix, with regular watering during summer growth and a strict dry winter rest after leaf drop. As a Madagascan endemic with restricted habitat and slow growth, well-established US-seed-grown plants are particularly valued in cultivation.
