Incense Tree or Indian Frankincense Tree

Location in BHU campus :Planted in Ayurvedic garden.

Botanical name : Boswellia serrata Roxb. Syn B.glabra Roxb.

Family : Burseraceae

Vernacular / local Name : Bengali & Hindi-Salai, Kundur, luban; Gujarati-Dhup, gugali; Kannada-Chitta, madi, guguladhupa, madimara; Malayalam-Kundurakkamaram; Tamil–Parangi-saambraani, vellai-kungiliyam, gugulu; Marathi-Salai, salphullie; Oriya-Loban; Sanskrit-Ashvamutri, kunduru, shallaki; Telugu–Phirangi-saambraaani.

English names : Incense Tree, Indian Frankincense tree, Indian Olibanum tree, Salai

A medium to large sized deciduous tree up to 18 m high with a spreading crown. Bark thin, yellow or greenish ash coloured, exfoliating in thin, smooth, papery flakes. Bark exudes pinkish drops of fragrant gum-resin when wounded. Leaves imparipinnate, 25-40 cm long. Leaflets 8-15 pairs, opposite, ovate. Flowers white in long panicles. Fruits oblong-obovoid to ovoid drupe/capsule.

Flowering: January-March

Fruiting : May-June

• Sacred value

The gum called loban, guggal or salai is used in worship.

• Uses

Timber is suitable for manufacturing plywood, veneers, furniture, packing cases and match-splints. It is a valuable material for paper pulp. The tree yields a yellowish–green oleoresin known as Indian Olibanum, Indian Frankincense or salai or guggal which has pleasant scent when burnt. The gum (resin) is used medicinally as a diaphoretic and astringent and to make ointment for sores. It is a good substitute for imported Canada-balsam. The flower and seeds are eaten.