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Indian Olibanum
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Indian Olibanum
ative Photo: Satish Phadke
Common name: Indian Olibanum, Indian Frankincense • Gujarati: સાલેડી Saaledi, સલાઈ ગૂગળ Salaai gugul • Hindi: शल्लकी Shallaki, Kundur, Luban • Kannada: ಗುಗ್ಗುಳ ಮರ Guggula mara, ಆನೆಬೇಲ Anebela, ಇಡಬೋಲ Idabol, ಕುಂದು Kundu, ಕುಂದುರು Kunduru, ಚಿಟೆ Chite, ಚಿಟ್ಟುಂಬೆ Chittumbe, ಚಿತ್ತ Chitta, ಚಿಲಕಡಿ Chilakadi, ಚಿಲಕಧೂಪ Chilakadhupa, ತುರುಷ್ಕ Turushka, ಮಾದಿ Maadi, ಮುಕುಂದ Mukunda, ಸುರಭಿ Surabhi, ತದುಕು Taduku • Malayalam: കുങ്ങില്യം Kungilyam • Marathi: धुपाळी Dhupali, धूपसाळी Dhupasali, कुरुंद Kurunda, सालफळी Salaphali, साळई Salai, साळी Sali • Oriya: Salai • Sanskrit: भीषण Bhishan, गुग्गुल Guggula, हस्तिनशना Hastinashana, पालंक Palank, पार्वती Parvati, ऱ्हादिनी Hradini, कुरुन्द Kurunda, सल्लकी Sallaki, शल्लकी Shallaki, स्रुवा Sruva • Tamil: குமஞ்சம் Kumancam, குங்கிலியம் Kunkiliyam, மரத்துவெள்ளை Marattu-vellai, பறங்கிச்சாம்பிராணி Paranki-c-campi-rani, வெள்ளிக்கீரை Vellai-k-kirai • Telugu: గుగ్గిలము Guggilamu, పరంగిసాంబ్రాణిచెట్టు Parangi-sambrani-chettu, సల్లకి Sallaki • Urdu: Kundur, Lobana
Botanical name: Boswellia serrata    Family: Burseraceae (Torchwood family)
Synonyms: Boswellia glabra, Boswellia thurifera, Bursera thurifera
Indian Olibanum is a deciduous tree endemic to India and has been recorded on dry hills and slopes, on gravelly soils between an altitude range of 275-900 m. It is a medium sized tree, 3-5 m tall, but can grow up to 20 m tall, with ash coloured papery bark. Alternately arranged leaves are pinnate, crowded at the end of branches, 20-40 cm long. There are 8-15 pairs of leaflets, 3-6 cm long, with an odd one at the tip. Leaflets are ovate, with toothed margin. Flowers are tiny, creamy, about 8 mm across, borne in 10-15 cm long racemes in leaf axils. There are 10 stamens with a short style and a 3-lobed stigma. Fruits are 2 cm long, 3-cornered. Indian Olibanum tree, on injury, exudates an oleo-gum-resin known as Salai, Guggal or Indian Frankincense. Flowering: January.
Medicinal uses: Extracts of Indian Olibanum have been clinically studied for osteoarthritis and joint function, particularly for osteoarthritis of the knee. A Boswellia extract marketed under the name Wokvel has undergone human efficacy, comparative, pharmacokinetic studies. Indian Olibanum is used in the manufacture of the supposed anti-wrinkle agent "Boswelox", which has been criticised as being ineffective.
Identification credit: Satish Phadke Photographed in Maharashtra.
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