Phenology of Leaf, Flower and Fruits of Boswellia neglecta and Commiphora myrrha in Borena Zone, South Eastern Ethiopia

Leafing, flowering and fruiting phenology patterns of C.myrrha and B.neglecta were examined in Borena Zone of Oromiya region, South Eastern Ethiopia, for the period of 24 months starting from September, 2011 to September, 2013. We selected 16 individual trees (Dbh ??10 cm) of both species at 100m apart and monitored in every week for phenologies.The result revealed that pattern of leafing and leaf loss, flowering and fruiting are bimodal following the rainfall pattern of the study area. Leaf flushing starts in the month of September and March when wet season begin for both species. And flushing reached peak and trees covered with leaf in the months of October to November and April to May in the first and second seasons, respectively. Leaf shedding starts in mid-December and mid-June. Flowering is concentrated in December and June and usually ends (Dried and withered) at the mid of January and July. Early fruiting observed in October for C. myrrha and in Novemberfor B.neglecta in the first season and in July for both species in the second season. However, fruit maturation was in November and July for C.myrrha and January and July for B.neglecta. According to the local people and monitoring of the trees, seed harvesting is possible before end of January for C.myrrha and mid-February for B.neglecta since fruiting of both species in the second season is not certain.