Distribution
Frankincense for sale in a souk in Dubai. © Liz Lawley, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
Boswellia sacra is restricted to the southern Arabian Peninsula and the north-east coast of Somalia. Although it tolerates a range of conditions, it prefers arid, cool areas.
In Dhofar and Yemen - the most famous and productive areas - the trees thrive in the rain shadow of the monsoon mountains.
Trees growing in damp conditions produce less, and lower quality, gum-resin.
