This individual is vibrant and lush, a clear sign of recent rains. To those unfamiliar with boswellias it might appear as being pruned, as there are no thin branches from new growth. In temperate zones it is common to prune deciduous trees in parks and gardens (for instance Tilia cordata/europaea), resulting in thick and short branches which in spring have lots of foliage at the ends. But on Socotra this is an adaptation to water shortage and not human intervention.
This species will grow on vertical rock walls or on the ground as this individual is.
There are at least 9 species of Boswellia on Socotra, and they are all endemic.
Elevation: 600 meters.
This is the complete list of all the 10 Boswellia species found in the Socotra Archipelago:
Boswellia ameero
Boswellia asplenifolia
Boswellia bullata
Boswellia dioscoridis
Boswellia elongata
Boswellia nana
Boswellia popoviana
Boswellia scopulorum
Boswellia socotrana
Found only on the island of Samha:
Boswellia samhaensis
In addition there are numerous hybrids and varieties that will keep botanists busy.
Read more:
The challenges in seed regeneration of the endemic Boswellia species on Socotra.
Last updated on 8 November 2024
