Boswellia Serrata

Botanical Name – Boswellia serrata

Common Name – Bhishan, Guggula, Hastinashana (Sanskrit), Palank, Salaiyya, Saalhe (Hindi), Salai guggal, Salai (Marathi), Guggal dhupa (Kannada), Saaledi (Gujrati)

Distribution

• Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab
  
  

Habit

• Medium sized deciduous tree
• Moderate growth
  
  

Habitat

• Dry deciduous forest
  
  

Specific Properties

• Tree is resistant to drought and fire
• It is an important tree in dry, hot, stony habitats and has enormous potential for reforesting and alleviating degraded wastelands
• Due to market demands, over harvesting and unsustainable managing practices Guggal’s wild populations have declined drastically
  
  

Ecology

• Pollen and nectar for birds, bees
• Giant Asian honeybees & Indian honeybees are pollinators
  
  

Uses

• Source of most important gum-resin called ‘salai guggul’ or ‘Indian olibanum”, used in incense (Dhoop)
• Used in treatment of inflammatory diseases, osteoarthritis, chronic bowel diseases, edema, pain and bronchial asthma
• Leaves as fodder
• Salai timber is pale brown and moderately hard and is used to make packing cases toys, matches and paper pulp
  
  

Propagation

• Seeds