[4] True balm of Gilead was very rare, and appears to have been produced from the unrelated tree Pistacia lentiscus.

[6] Commiphora gileadensis is recognisable by the pleasant aroma arising from a broken twig or a crushed leaf.

[citation needed] Depending on where Commiphora gileadensis is growing, it can vary in size, ranging from a small-leaved shrub to a large-leaved tree usually up to 4m tall.

It is rarely spiny, bark peeling or flaking when cut and exuding a pleasant smelling resin.

The fruits are dull red and marked with four longitudinal white stripes, one-seeded and splitting into 2-4 valves.