Styrax
Styrax platanifolius
The Storaxbäume ( Styrax ) are a genus of plants, consisting of about 120 to 150 species of woody plants. This makes them the largest genus of the family of Storaxbaumgewächse ( Styracaceae ).
Description of the plant
In Styrax species it includes both deciduous and evergreen small trees, sometimes shrubs, reach stature heights 2-20 m. The deciduous species often have large leaves, in some species up to 20 cm long. The simple, most change-constant leaves are hairy or rarely smooth. Stipules are not available.
Inflorescences racemose or paniculate or may be zymös, rarely the flowers are in clusters or individually. The hermaphrodite, radial symmetry flowers are often fünfzählig. Your pure white, sometimes slightly reddish petals tend something together, so that the flowers are slightly bell -shaped. There are usually ten ( 8 to 13) stamens present with yellow anthers. The ovary is upper constant.
The fruits are drupes, the mesocarp can be both meaty leathery dry. The fruits usually contain only one seed. There are species with winged seeds, most species have ribbed seeds and some species have smooth seeds.
Dissemination
The Styrax species occur in all areas of the family: Most species are native to East Asia, many also from tropical South America or Mexico. One way of Storaxbaum ( Styrax officinalis), also occurs in Asia Minor, the eastern Mediterranean, and with a different subspecies in California. Some locations are also known from Italy.
Use
Some of the types have fragrant resins which are obtained by scoring of the bark. The most important among them is the Storaxbaum, which occurs in almost the entire area of the species, and the resin is then referred to as styrax or Storaxharz. This was used as a fumigant, especially in religious ceremonies, as well as a cure and as an ingredient in perfumes. Since the 18th century, however, most sold for these purposes Storaxharz comes not from Storaxbaum, but by the odor very similar but more profitable sweetgum (Liquidambar ).
Other major resin suppliers are benzoic Storaxbaum and Siam Benzoeharzbaum whose resin is called benzoin, and some Brazilian species.
Some deciduous species, such as the Japanese Storaxbaum, the Obassia - Storaxbaum and again the Storaxbaum, because of their beautiful flowers and leaves, and because they are not too big, also like to be planted in gardens and parks.
System
In the genus Styrax about 120 to 150 species can be distinguished. Here is a list of types (selection):
- Styrax americanus Lam.
- Styrax benzoides Craib
- Benzoeharzbaum ( Styrax benzoin Dryand. )
- Styrax calvescens Perkins
- Styrax camporum Pohl
- Styrax confusus Hemsl. ( Syn: Styrax philadelphoides Perkins )
- Styrax dasyanthus Perkins
- Styrax faberi Perkins
- Styrax formosanus Matsum.
- Styrax grandifolius Aiton
- Styrax hemsleyanus Diels
- Styrax hookeri CBClarke ( Syn: Styrax perkinsiae Rehder, Styrax shweliensis WWSm. )
- Japanese Storaxbaum ( Styrax japonicus Siebold & Zucc, Syn. Styrax bodinieri H.Lév, Styrax seminatus Farges. ) Styrax japonicus var kotoensis ( Hayata ) Matsum. & Suzuki ( Syn: Styrax grandiflorus handle, Styrax kotoensis Hayata. )
The following described species are currently assigned to other genera:
- Styrax biaristatus W.W.Sm. is now Huodendron biaristatum ( W.W.Sm. ) Rehder
Swell
- Shumei Huang & James W. Grimes: Styracaceae in the Flora of China, Volume 15, p 253: Styrax - Online.