About the Frankincense Tree

Movies:
An up close and personal veiw of the tree from roots to shoots.

The two most commonly harvested Frankincense trees in Somalia are Boswellia sacra, known as Yagcar trees, and Boswellia frereana, known as Moxor trees. The species B. sacra is also known as B. carteri, it is thought that the distinction evolved from differences in the geographic location of trees within the species (SEPASAL). B. sacra and B. frereana are very similar; differing mainly in the environment and location the species are found. B. sacra is often found on rocky slopes, lime stone boulders, and more rarely vertical rock faces. This species is usually found growing 5 to 60km from the coast, anywhere from sea level to upwards of 750 meters. B. frereana can be found growing in a broader area, this area extends outwards of 200 km from the coast. It is mainly found growing on vertical rock faces, anywhere from sea level to 1,230 meters (Farah, 1994).

Boswellia or Frankincense trees are small and often shrub like perennials, they may grow anywhere from 2-8 meters tall. The density of Boswellia vegetation is very low (SEPASAL). They have many branches, thick stems, and smooth papery bark (Van Wyck, 2004). Their leaves are narrow with scalloped-serrated edges, usually found grouped near branch ends (SEPASAL). They have small, pale yellow, star-shaped flowers that occur in clusters (Van Wyck, 2004). There are several specific morphological differences among rocky mountain area and stony soil area tree growth; generally these differences include leaf, flower, and root characteristics. These differences are not distinct enough to differentiate the trees as separate species (SEPASAL). These differences may be attributed to environmental adaptation, thus indicating that environment is a deciding factor in the phenotype of Frankincense trees, although no known study has been done.

What is known about the roots of B. sacra and B. frereana is vague and often surrounded mystery. The majority of high elevation trees adhere to boulder or rock faces by means of a cushion or disk-like swelling at the base of the trunk. This bulbous base is best developed when trees grow on cliffs and slightly if not at all when they grow in rocky soil or gravel (SEPASAL). The exact means by which this base adheres to rocks is unknown. It's thought that the roots of Boswellia trees found growing in watercourses penetrate crevices in the rocks they are growing on and grow down into the watercourses to obtain water (SEPASAL). Evidence even suggests that trees can be removed and replanted. This indicates a shallow root base and makes the trees prone to theft (Farah, 1994). Tribes can keep track of their trees by the white coloration that is left on the rocky site if uprooted (Farah, 1994).

Reproduction and Regeneration

Flowering and fruiting of Frankincense trees occurs from September to November. The seeds are small and flat and are produced in small easily breakable capsules containing 3-5 seeds in each. They seem to be adapted to wind dispersal. A suggestion for seed survival in arid climates is the process of water accumulation in lime stone crevices where seeds become trapped, allowing for development. Studies have found a very low rate of germination with less than 8% even after treatment with different hormones (SEPASAL). Swelling of the root base in B. sacra begins early in the trees' life (Farah, 1994) and cuttings are easily propagated given the right conditions (SEPASAL).

Maydi

Compare/Contrast Table: The differences between sacra and frereana

Tree Name, scientific and common	Boswellia sacra, Yagcar	Boswellia frereana, Moxor
Resin Type	Maydi slight lemon scent, sweet, and a pale yellow color	Beeyo A harder gum than maydi
Where	-northern Somalia, South Yemen, Oman, Southern Arabia -Is found between 5 to 60 km from the coast -Grows in elevations from sea level to upwards of 750 meters, but no more than 1230m. -Found in rocky slopes and gullies, lime stone boulders, and more rarely vertical rock faces	-endemic to northern somalia -Found growing in a broader area than Yagcar, extends along coastal hills to 200km inland. -Found in rocky coastal areas and in elevations of up to 750 meters. -Found mainly on vertical rock faces
External characters	small tree, about 8m tall, branches from base	small tree, about 8m tall