Ancient seed blooms: Uncovering the tree of biblical legends
A team of researchers has successfully grown a tree from a seed that survived for over a thousand years in a cave in the Judean Desert. Experts suggest that the tree, named "Sheba", may be the source of the biblical "tsori". This resin, mentioned in the Book of Genesis, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, was described as a substance with healing properties.
In the 1980s, a mysterious seed was discovered in the Judean Desert. According to radiocarbon dating, it was over a thousand years old, and genetic studies revealed that the seed belongs to the genus Commiphora, which is part of the frankincense family (Burseraceae).
This family includes around 200 modern plant species, valued for their aromatic resins and uses in ethnobotany. The research findings were published in "Communications Biology" in September 2024. The tree reached a height of nearly 3 metres within 14 years.
Is it the historical "Balm of Gilead"?
According to IFL Science, it was initially thought that Sheba might be the historical "Balm of Gilead", but the absence of aromatic compounds disproved this theory. Scientists propose that Sheba might be a relic of an extinct population of trees from the Levant region. Researchers note that, genetically, Sheba is closely related to species Commiphora angolensis, C. neglecta, and C. tenuipetiolata, yet it differs from them in significant characteristics.
Researchers speculate that Sheba might be the source of the biblical "tsori", a resin described in the Book of Genesis, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel as a substance with healing properties. The area where the seed originated—the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea—was once renowned for its lush forests and intensively cultivated valleys.
Scientists are considering how the seed could have ended up in the cave. They speculate that it might have been transported by animals or deliberately placed there by humans. Archaeological evidence suggests the possibility of seed storage by rodents or birds.
Chemical analysis of Sheba's leaves and resin revealed the presence of compounds with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. The leaves contain up to 30% squalene, a component used in skincare cosmetics.
