Jason Eslamieh 10/01/2012 Commiphora drakebrochmanii Description: Commiphora drakebrochmanii Sprague, (1927; Type: N1, hills SE of Berbera, Drake- Brochman 755 (K holo.). Bacaroor, dhunkaal (som.). Shrub, up to c. 1.2 m tall unarmed; young branchlets longitudinally furrowed, densely pubescent. Leaves 1-3 foliolate, densely pubescent with often curved hairs; petiole 4-10 mm long; leaflets suborbicular to subreniform, 1-3 cm long and wide, truncate to subcordate at the base rounded to slightly emarginate at the apex, with entire margins. Male flowers unknown. Female flowers in short few-flowered densely pubescent inflorescences; pedicels 0.5 1 mm long calyx c. 3 mm long densely pubescent. Petals c. 2.5 mm long, glabrous. Fruits compressed-ellipsoid, purplish, 9-11 x 9 mm long, pubescent, on a short stalk; pericarp 2-valved, fleshy; pseudoaril inconspicuous or perhaps absent; stone suborbicular, compressed, 5.5-7 x 6.5-7 mm. Habitat: In low, open semi-desert scrub; 450-1000 m. N1-3; not known elsewhere. Gillett 4818; Collenette 183; Thulin & Warfa 5492. Cultivation: Care and management: Soil: Well-draining soil with 1/3 organic material, such as well-balanced potting mulch, and 1/3 #2 perlite and 1/3 coarse sand or ¼ rocks. Watering: Water thoroughly and often during the active months and hold back to once a week during the inactive period but do not allow the soil to completely dry out for long periods of time. Feeding: A month prior to the spring, feed with a flowering fertilizer containing low nitrogen but with a high percentage of phosphate and potash (6-20-20 NPK). After the seeds are harvested, or by mid-summer, feed the plants with a fertilizer of equal NPK percentage (recommended: 10-10-10). Do not feed during the resting period. Lighting: Full sun in humid zones, partial shade in dry zones. Pollination: By the second or third day after the male flowers have opened, the pollen is collectable by brush. Use a # 1 organic paint brush to carry the pollen to the female flower and gently paint the pollen on the stigma until most of
the pollen has been transferred. Repeat this practice in the morning for a few days to ensure a successful pollination. Female flower Male inflorescence Young fruit forming Full-size fruit but not ripened yet If the pollination has been successful, within just a few days, the ovaries will enlarge and fruit will be clearly visible. Harvesting: the seeds will be ready for harvesting between 50-70 days after a successful pollination. First, the fruit will turn bright red and then begin to dry out into a dark red/brown color. At this time you may remove the semi-dried pericarp and leave the seed on the branch. A fully ripened seed can easily be removed from the branch. Do not force or cut the petiole prematurely.
Ripened fruit Seed Propagation: Seeds: Allow at least two weeks to a full month from the harvest time for the seeds to dry out. Then soak the seeds for a full day prior to sowing. If you have not removed the pericarp, you must do that after the soaking. Sow seeds in a well-draining potting mix and make sure the seeds are covered with ½ -1 inch coarse sand. Do not allow the soil mix to dry out until the seeds have germinated. Two-month-old seedling Six-year-old seedling grown in ground in AZ Cuttings: Prior to the plant s leafing out, cut below a node at a 45 degree angle and apply root gel to the fresh cut immediately. Plant the cutting in a well-draining potting mix and top the soil with a quarter inch of rocks to prevent any movement. The cuttings must be held firmly in place in order to successfully root. Water slightly to get the soil moist but do not wash
Staging and exhibition: out the root gel. Within a month or two, depending on the environment, the cutting will start to root and leaf out. Considering that Staging is a form of art and a personal expression, the following information is intended to assist the exhibitor with a better understanding of the culture of this unique species, so proper containers, potting mix and top dressing are selected for successful growing and exhibition. Commiphora drakebrochmanii in cultivation can thrive in a medium size container with a reasonably shallow depth. Containers with diameters two-thirds of the plant s branch spread are a good rule of thumb. Do not use a container less than four inches deep for this species.
Series of field collected plants staged in various container size and shape.