Plant Encyclopedia
Boswellia sacra (frankincense)
Japanese name: フランキンセンス
Scientific name: Boswellia sacra
[Overview]
An evergreen shrub to small tree found mostly in arid regions, characterized by branches that extend straight out sideways.
The leaves are odd-pinnately compound, with 8–10 pairs of leaflets.
[Uses]
The aromatic gum resin obtained by wounding the trunk is called nyuko (frankincense); together with myrrh (Commiphora myrrha), it was a representative incense of the ancient Orient and Egypt, and was also used in making mummies.
It is said that at the birth of Jesus, the Three Magi from the East offered gold, frankincense and myrrh.
It is also used as incense in temples and elsewhere.
Details
Names
English: frankincense, olibanum-tree, bible frankincense
Japanese: フランキンセンス、ニュウコウジュ（乳香樹）、ニュウコウ（乳香）
Japanese: フランキンセンス、ニュウコウジュ（乳香樹）、ニュウコウ（乳香）
Life form
Shrub, Small tree
Evergreen / deciduous
Evergreen
Leaf type
Broadleaf
Habit
Terrestrial
Distribution or origin
Arabian Peninsula to Turkey
Growth form
Branching
Leaf shape
Odd-pinnate compound leaf
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Entire
Inflorescence
Raceme
Flower color
White, Pink
Leaf color
Green
Availability of seeds and plants
High
Form sold
Seedlings
Soil needs
Required
Scent
Resinous
Uses
Essential oil
Japanese culture
Used in mummy making; anecdote from the birth of Jesus Christ
Translated from our Japanese encyclopedia. If anything differs, the Japanese page is correct.