Styrax officinalis

Styrax officinalis is a species of shrub in the family Styracaceae.

Styrax officinalis
S. officinalis in the Menashe hills of Israel
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Styracaceae
Genus: Styrax
Species:
S. officinalis
Binomial name
Styrax officinalis
Synonyms[1]
  • Styrax officinarum Crantz

Description

Styrax officinalis is a deciduous shrub reaching a height of 2–5 metres (6 ft 7 in–16 ft 5 in).[2] It has a simple, relaxed form, with very thin elliptical leaves 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long and 3.5–5.5 cm (1 1⁄2–2 in) wide, alternate and widely spaced on thin, reddish stems, with a tight, dark bark on basal stems. A small very light green, stalked axillary bud is associated with each leaf.

Close-up on a flower of Styrax officinalis

The inflorescence is short and few-flowered. The flowers are axillary, bell-shaped, white and fragrant, about 2 cm (1 in) long. The corolla has 5–7 petals and many yellow anthers, the calyx is 5-lobed. Flowering period extends from spring to summer (May–June).[3]

Styrax officinalis subsp. redidivus, Styrax officinalis subsp. fulvescens (both native to California) and Styrax officinalis subsp. jaliscana (native to Mexico), were included here, but recent molecular analysis has suggested that they may be diverged to the point of being separate species.[4]

Fruits

Distribution

This species is native to southern Europe and the Middle East.[2][4] It prefers dry rocky slopes, woods and thickets at an elevation up to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) above sea level.[2]

Storax tree blossoms

Uses

This plant is the "official" source of styrax, an herbal medicine known from ancient times. Some believe its oleoresin to have been the stacte used together with frankincense, galbanum, and onycha to make Ketoret, the Tabernacle incense of the Old Testament.[5]

References
  1. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  2. Plants for a Future
  3. "Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden Newsletter". 5 (2). 1999. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) (includes helpful photos of the features described)
  4. Peter Frisch (March 1996). "Isozyme Analysis of Intercontinental Disjuncts within Styrax (Styracaceae): Implications for the Madrean-Tethyan Hypothesis". American Journal of Botany. 83 (3): 342–355. doi:10.2307/2446169. JSTOR 2446169.
  5. James A. Duke (2007). Duke's Handbook of Medicinal Plants of the Bible. p. 447. ISBN 978-0-8493-8202-4.
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