Boswellia sacra

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Boswellia sacra

• Riley Hollenbach

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Taxonomy

• Burseraceae
• Boswellia
• sacra

• Burseraceae family includes 540 different
  species of flowering plants.
• This family of plants is also known as the
  Torchwood Family or incense tree family.
• Produce fragrant resins used as incense or
  perfume

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Human Uses of Boswellia sacra

• Boswellia sacra is also known as the Frankincense
  Tree and is where we get Frankincense from.
• Frankincense is used in aroma therapy and
  perfumery.
• Important in Christianity because in The Old
  Testament it was part of the gifts from The Three
  Wise Men to Jesus when he was born.

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Human Uses of Boswellia sacra

• Frankincense is obtained from trees by slashing
  the stems.
• Let the resin bleed out and harden.
• Drops of hardened resin called tears.
• When burned, Frankincense gives off a fresh,
  fruity, lemon-pine, sweet smell

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Human Uses of Boswellia sacra

• Used in other religions too as a tool of
  meditation.
• Deepens breathing and is very relaxing.
• Also used in Ayurvedic Medicine.
• Boswellic acids found in the resin is an
  anti-inflammatory.
• Used to treat asthma, arthritis, and other
  inflammatory conditions.

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Ecology of Boswellia sacra

• Grows in very arid regions.
• Originates from the Arabic regions.
• Northern Somalia.
• South Western Oman.
• Southern Yemen.

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Ecology of Boswellia sacra

• Very drought resistant.
• No frost tolerance.
• Can grow up to 25 feet tall (7.5 meters).
• Require limestone rich soil.
• Found growing on rocky hillsides and cliffs or in
  dried riverbeds.
• Moisture provided by morning mist.