53 



FOREST TREES. 



A moderately large tree of the dry zone. Often 

 confined to the smaller rocky hills. Bark papyrace- 

 oud, whitish, curling off in thin scales. Leaflets 

 sessile, pubescent, serrate or crenate. Flowers 

 small, white, in axillary racemes, shorter than the 

 pinnate leaves. Wood of little value; but the 

 bastard olibanum or gum-resin which exudes from 

 the trunk possesses a local utility in medi cinB and 

 worship. It is not, however, so useful in either 

 respect as the true " Sambrani," which is obtained 

 from the following variety of the species. 

 129 Boswellia serratavar. glabra. ^a7i, Sambram 



Chilkada, Chilku, Chittumbe. 



mg.-Sidd, Fl. Sylv. t. 124. 



References.— D«cfc of Econ. Prod, of Ind.; 

 Pharm. Ind. 

 Common on stony land near Closepet and at 

 Nundydroog. Cultivated in gardens at Nanjangud 

 and elsewhere in the vicinity of temples, A small deci- 

 duous ti-ee, with smooth leaves and white scaly bark. 

 Wood inferior, and only used for fuel or charcoal 

 The gum-resin is a bastard olibanum which is exten- 

 sively used in medicine and as a sweet incense 

 during temple ritual. " Royle describes picking 

 tears off the trees, and states that these burn rapid- 

 ly with a bright light, diffusing a pleasant odour.'* 

 Watt. The resinous limbs of the tree make capital 

 torches. Although good in itself, this gum-resin, 

 should not be confounded with the true olibanum of 

 commerce. 



Cultivation.— When the fruit has attained matu- 

 rity it should contain three seeds. But the latter 

 are usually abortive and very rarely germinate. On 

 this account the cultivated trees in Mysore are 

 mostly raised from offsets and cuttings The 

 species thrives best among rocky boulders where 

 there is shelter, warmth, and moisture. 



