For the past 4,000 years, Boswellia, the source of frankincense, has played a role in the economic growth and technological advancement of the Arabian Peninsula. It was the source for a cure of many diseases and purified worship halls across the globe. It has been an ageless natural commodity equal to gold and treasured as a sacred gift from the Gods.This book is a guide to growing, cultivating, exhibiting and extracting the resin of these wondrous plants in an urban agriculture and for personal and commercial use. It gives the reader scientific compilation of original descriptions of the nineteen species in their natural habitats, their historical perspectives, a process for hybridization, uses for holistic medicine, and what the future holds for these magical species of the ancient world. It is a reference book for botanists, growers and collectors with specificity of detailed habitat information and over 200 color photographs that compliment the text and illustrate the diversity of the genus.

This book provides insight into the biology and genomics of the genus Boswellia (family Burseraceae), a natural resource used for the production of frankincense, an oleo-gum resin. The Boswellia species are ecologically, medicinally, commercially and culturally important. Significantly contributing to the paucity of comprehensive literature on this genus, this volume provides a detailed discussion on the genomics, physiology and ecology of Boswellia. The chapters cover a wide range of topics, including taxonomy, distribution, genetic diversity and microbiology. The production process of frankincense and its impact on the species are presented as well. In light of the recent decline of various Boswellia populations, species propagation and conservation are discussed. Plant scholars, ecologists and conservation biologists will find this book to be an important and informative reference.

The genus Bursera covers a vast area in the New World, extending from the southwestern part of the United States through México, Central and South America, and into the Caribbean Islands. Bursera has been embedded in the folklore of the Americas for its colorful exfoliation and for its aromatic gum resin known as copal since the Aztec and Inca periods. The resounding similarities of its use in medicine and incense make Bursera the Frankincense of the Americas. This book is a guide to growing, cultivating, and exhibiting Bursera, with the primary objective to preserve these hidden jewels of the New World through horticulture. The scientific classification of Bursera is put into context with its horticulture for a holistic understanding of the genus in habitat and in cultivation. It is written to be a reference book containing all 105 known species with their taxa, including descriptions, illustrations, photos of habitat and cultivated plants, with specificity to enable the reader to identify the species.

Approx.446 pagesApprox.446 pages

This is the second volume in a series of monographs which are intended to promote information exchange and international harmonised standards for the quality control and use of herbal medicines. It contains scientific information on 30 selected plants, and each entry includes a pharmacopoeial summary for quality assurance purposes, information on its clinical application and sections on contraindications, pharmacology, safety issues, and dosage forms. It provides two cumulative indexes with entries in alphabetical order by plant name and according to the plant material of interest.