Vol. 80 No. 2 Suppl. (2025)
Articles

The species of Burseraceae in Ethiopia – their distribution patterns, association with major vegetation types, species richness, and extinction risks

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  • Ib Friis,
  • Sebsebe Demissew
Ib Friis
Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
Sebsebe Demissew
The National Herbarium, Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 3434, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/jopt-19144

Published 2025-11-17

Keywords

  • Combretum-Terminalia woodlands,
  • conservation,
  • modelled distributions,
  • observed distributions,
  • Acacia-Commiphora woodland and bushland

How to Cite

Friis, I., & Demissew, S. (2025). The species of Burseraceae in Ethiopia – their distribution patterns, association with major vegetation types, species richness, and extinction risks. Webbia, 80(2), 15–59. https://doi.org/10.36253/jopt-19144

Copyright (c) 2025 Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

The Burseraceae in Ethiopia comprises six species of Boswellia and 42 of Commiphora, producing frankincense or myrrh. This work aims to study the distribution and ecology of all 48 species, although some Commiphora-species are poorly documented. Boswellia species form two distinct geographic groups: one northwestern and one southeastern. Most Commiphora species are confined to the southern and eastern lowlands, with a few also occurring in river valleys in highlands. Distributions are analysed against vegetation types and climate models. Ranges vary from widespread in climatically suitable areas to highly localized. Commiphora species are linked to Acacia-Commiphora bushland on limestone and sand (mostly calcareous), though specific ecological preferences are still unclear. Species richness on degree squares correlates with collection intensity, indicating gaps in knowledge beyond well-sampled areas. Assessed IUCN categories of extinction risks range from Least concern to Critically endangered.

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