Distribution and habitat: In dry forests from Punjab to West Bengal and in peninsular India.

Botany:  A medium to large sized, deciduous tree, up to 7 m in height with ash coloured papery bark peeling off in thin flakes. Young shoots pubescent. 

• Leaves: Imparipinnnate, leaflets ovate or ovate- lanceolate, variable.
• Flowers: Small, white, in axillary racemes or panicles.
• Fruit: Drupes 12 mm long, trigonous, splitting along 3 valves, scarlet red when young, turns white at maturity.
• Seeds: Compressed, pendulous.                     

Chemical constituents: Serratol, 8 tetracyclic triterpene acids viz. β-boswellic acid, its 11-ketoderivatives and their  acetates, 3 α- and 3 β-hydroxytirucall-8,24-dien-21-oic acid,  3α- acetoxytirucall-8,24-dien-21-oic acid and 3-ketotirucall-8,24-dien-21-oic acid are important 

Uses: Anti inflammatory, Bark used in asthma, ulcers, haemorrhoids, skin diseases.  Gum resin - fevers, piles, goiter, jaundice, arthritis, anti inflammatory