The MGS Forum
Plants for mediterranean gardens => Trees and Shrubs => Topic started by: Umbrian on December 26, 2012, 07:56:11 AM
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This posting was supposed to appear yesterday as a seasonal one but having typed it up my "posting" failed and I did not have the time to repeat it. So, here we go again and I hope this time to be successful ::)
An article about Boswellia sacra in The Telegraph caught my eye and I thought it would be interesting to precis it for the Forum.
The Frankincense tree that for centuries has been tapped for its resin, prized for the sweet smoke it emits when burnt and also as a key ingredient in many perfumes, is under threat. Many of us only probably know of it through the Christmas story when it 's oil was one of the gifts brought by the Magi. This tree needs quite specific desert conditions to succeed such as those found in the Arabian Peninsular and parts of North Africa such as Ethiopia. In the latter country, in an effort to help poorer farmers ,permits to harvest the resin ,that had previously been a national concession . were extended to individuals. This has resulted in over exploitation and many of the trees are now suffering. Around 9 "taps" per year used to be the norm but now many trees are being tapped 20+ times in one year with dire results. These trees are weakened and subject to infestation by beetles that lay their eggs under the damaged bark. Overtapped trees also have a very low pollen rate of 16% compared to 80% for healthy trees. Ironically farmers are now turning to more profitable crops that need less space.
In our modern world it would appear that many of its natural resouces are under threat and it would be nice to think that we, as keen and resposible gardeners ,are helping in some small way to redress the balance. :)
Season's Greetings to all my "friends" on the Forum
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Thanks for that timely thought, Carole! I wonder whether anyone on this forum has tried growing the tree? I suppose conditions in parts of Israel would suit it.
One of the pleasures of Christmas here in the UK is the service of nine lessons and carols from King's College, Cambridge - this year and last, enhanced by the beautiful mellifluous voice of Dr Basim Musallam reading the 8th lesson. His enunciation of "gold, frankincense and myrrh" really conjured up the exotic allure of those treasures.
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Alisdair, we saw a frankincense tree last year in the Kibbutz Ein Gedi, which is also recognisde as a botanical garden.
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Jorun, Thanks for jogging my decrepit memory! And as Ein Gedi was so much less desert-like (almost paradisiacal) than many Mediterranean places, if the Boswellia can be grown there I guess it can flourish in lots of other places. Presumably you haven't been tempted yourself!
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The BBC ran a TV series recently anchored by Kate ?????????, on the collection of Frankincense in the Yemen and Oman. It was then taken by camel around the Gulf of Oman and along the Red sea coast to the port of Haifa. The cameltrain passed many check points where a toll was duly collected.
I decided that Boswellia was not a Mediterranean tree and that an article was not really justified for TMG.
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Alisdair, I have not been tempted, yet.
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Boswellia is not a big tree in habitat. It is much admired by people who grow desert plants such as pachycauls, caudiciforms and xerophytes and they are grown as pot plants. Semi-mature specimens are treated almost like bonsai. They'd need protection from cold, frost, snow and wetness but they'd be worth trying I think. tn