A mature and healthy specimen of boswellia elongata, but alone and without any seedlings nearby. This lack of regeneration is a long standing problem all over Socotra as the goats eat all the seedlings, effectively preventing the next generation from establishing. Thus this mature tree will sooner, rather than later die of old age and take with it a living seed bank for the species.
The life expectancy for this species is around 100 years, and this tree is perhaps 60.
Endemic.
Elevation: 274 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 14 October 2023
