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Frankincense and myrrh

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Abstract

While frankincense and myrrh have been harvested from a multitude of species, certain species have predominated in history.Boswellia carteri andB. frereana are the main sources of frankincense today, whileB. papyrifera was the principal source of antiquity andB. sacra was the principal species of classical times.Commiphora myrrha is the chief source of myrrh today, butC. erythraea was the principal source of ancient and classical times. Each of these oleo-gum-resins has a characteristic odor that is predominately due to a mixture of complex sesquiterpenes.

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  1. Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Delaware State College, 19901-2275, Dover, DE

    Arthur O. Tucker

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Tucker, A.O. Frankincense and myrrh. Econ Bot 40, 425–433 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02859654

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