It is a shrub belonging to the Apiaceae family native to Central Asia and Southwest Asia. It is a perennial herbaceous plant that measures 1 to 4 meters in height. The trunk is 5-8 cm. in diameter at the base of the plant. The leaves are tripinnate and the yellow flowers in large umbels. The resin of this plant, called "galbanum", has a strong odor and is used in the preparation of various types of incense. It is harvested by exposing the upper part of the root, and cut into strips or by making incisions in the trunk. The essential oil is obtained by distillation of the oleoresin.
