Aquilaria agallocha Roxb. is an evergreen
tree attaining a height of 20 to 25m. (65.6
to 82.0 ft) and occurs sporadically in the forests
of the Sylhet, Chittagong and Chittagong
Hill Tracts regions of Bangladesh. It is also
found in Bhutan, Assam, Burma, Malayasia,
Cambodia and other parts of the Far East
(Burkhill 1966).
The main value of A. agallocha lies in its naturally occuring brown to black oleoresinous
deposits (agar) found in patches and
streaks in the wood of a small proportion of
the trees. This material is much prized
as a source of agar, agar-attar and agarbati
from which incense, perfumes and medicines
are prepared. The export of agar and its
products now provides a valuable source
of foreign exchange earning for Bangladesh