Boswellia serrata is a medium
sized deciduous tree with ash coloured papery bark. It yields a valuable gum of high medicinal value - astrigent, antipyretic, antidysentric, expectorant, diuretic, and stomachic. Its collection was banned by the State Government due to over exploitation in the past.

Salai gum was notified in Madhya Pradesh state as "specified forest produce" under the M.P Van Upaj ( Vyapar Viniyaman ) Act, 1969 and only the State Government or an agent appointed by the State Government could collect these gums. It has been taken out of the list of specified produce in June 2003.

In 1997, the State Government lifted the ban on extraction of Salai Gum in Gwalior, Shivpuri, Ujjain and Khandwa forest circles. It was also permitted in Narmada Sarovar submergence areas of Badwani and Jhabua forest Divisions.    The data for Boswellia gum collection during the last 7 seasons are given in the table below: