Boswellia sacra

Somali Frankincense ( Boswellia sacra ), illustration

Boswellia sacra ( syn.. Boswellia carterii Birdw ) is a plant that belongs to the family incense tree family ( Burseraceae ). German names are " Somali incense" or " Arabian frankincense ".

Dissemination

Boswellia sacra grows in Somalia, Oman and Yemen. It thrives only in dry areas. It is also grown in few other countries.

Description

Boswellia sacra grows achieved as a small, highly branched, leaves loose in the dry season tree with thick branches, the plant height of about 4-5 m. The bark is papery. The opposite leaves are pinnate constant. The more or less soft hairy leaflets are cut - entire or notched.

The small, hermaphrodite, star-shaped flowers are fünfzählig. The five petals are whitish, greenish- white, pale yellow or pale -pink. There are two circles, each with five stamens present. The flowering time is usually in April. It is formed a triangular stone fruit.

Ingredients

The gum resin incense contains 50 to 70% resin substances. Whose main component is the β -boswellic acid. 20 % are formed by mucins and 4-8 % essential oil. Furthermore Incensol is included.

Use

Boswellia sacra provides slow burning incense. In contrast to the other incenses incense gained in Somalia does not smell so extreme lemon-like. The color of frankincense resin is deep honey-yellow, the grains are usually 2 to 5 mm in size. A fine " basic " smell arises as with the other incenses only after some time.

The gum resin incense is called as a drug or Olibanum gum olibanum, rare " Gummiresina Olibanum ". Medicine, the drug is no longer used. Hildegard of Bingen recommended the application eg against hearing loss.