Styrax
(the ancient Greek name, used by Theophrastus, for the tree which produces Storax). Storax. SYNS. Cyrta, Foveolaria, Strigilia, Tremanthus. ORD. Styraceae. A genus comprising nearly sixty species of greenhouse or hardy, mostly lepidote, trees and shrubs, natives of the warmer parts of Asia and America, a few being found in temperate Asia and Europe. Flowers often white, disposed in axillary and terminal, short, loose, simple or slightly-branched racemes, often pendulous; calyx campanulate, minutely five-toothed or nearly entire; corolla segments or petals five, erecto-patent; stamens ten. Fruit globose or oblong; seeds, by abortion, one, or very rarely two. Leaves entire or serrated. S. Benzoin yields the resin called Benzoin; and S. officinale furnishes a balsamic resinous substance, known as Storax. The few species introduced are (except where otherwise stated) hardy, deciduous, white-flowered shrubs; they are very handsome subjects when in flower, and hence are highly suited for shrubberies. A light soil is most suitable. Propagation may be effected by layers, in spring or autumn. S. americana (American). fl. solitary or in very few-flowered racemes, nodding; petals lanceolate-oblong, 1/3in. to nearly 1/2in. long. Summer. l. 1in. to 3in. long, bright green, commonly entire, oblong or oval, mostly acute at both ends, often acuminate. h. 4ft. to 8ft. North America. S. Benzoin (Benzoin). fl. 1/2in. long; pedicels thrice as long as the flowers; racemes compound, axillary, rather shorter than the leaves, hoary-tomentose.