722 



STYRACACEAE. 



VOL. II. 



Calyx superior, its tube obconic ; fruit 2-4-winged. 



Calyx nearly inferior, its tube campanulate ; fruit globose or oblong. 



1. Halcsia. 



2. Styrax. 



i. HALESIA Ellis; L. Syst. Ed. 10, 2: 1044. 1759- 

 [MoHRODENDRON Britton, Card. & For. 6: 463. 1893.] 



Small trees or shrubs, more or less stellate-pubescent, with membranous deciduous 

 denticulate or dentate petioled leaves, and large white slender-pedicelled drooping bell- 

 shaped flowers, in lateral fascicles or short racemes, appearing with or before the leaves. 

 Calyx-tube obconic or obpyramidal, 4-5-ribbed, adnate to the ovary, the limb short, 4-toothed. 

 Corolla campanulate, 4~5-cleft or 4-s-parted nearly to the base. Stamens 8-16; filaments 

 flat, more or less monadelphous, slightly adnate to the corolla; anthers oblong. Ovary 

 2-4-celled; ovules about 4 in each cavity, the lower ascending, the upper pendulous. Fruit 

 dry, oblong, 2-4-winged longitudinally, i-4-celled, tipped with the style and the minute calyx- 

 teeth, the seed cylindric. [In honor of Stephen Hales, 1677-1761, a distinguished English 

 scientist.] 



Three species, natives of southeastern North America, the following typical. 



i. Halesia Carolina L. Silver-bell or Snow-drop Tree. Fig. 3309. 



JIalesia Carolina L. Syst. Ed. 10, 1044. I 759 

 Halcsia tetraptera L. Sp. PI. Ed. 2, 636. 1762. 

 Mohrodendron carolinum Britton, Card. & For. 6: 463. 

 1893. 



A small tree with maximum height of about 45 

 and trunk diameter of about 20'. Leaves oval, ovate 

 or ovate-oblong, denticulate, acuminate at the apex, 

 mostly narrowed at the base, dark green and glabrous 

 above when old, pale green and stellate-pubescent 

 beneath, 2'-6' long, i'-3' wide; flowers in lateral 

 fascicles of 1-5 appearing with the leaves; pedicels 

 filiform, i'-ii' long; calyx at flowering time about 2" 

 long; corolla 6"-o/' long; ovary 4-ce!led; fruit 

 oblong-ellipsoid, 4-winged, i'-ii' long, usually longer 

 than its pedicel, several times longer than the per- 

 sistent style. 



In woods and along streams, Virginia to Illinois, south 

 to Florida and Alabama. Wood soft, light brown ; weight 

 per cubrc foot 35 Ibs. Calico-wood. Shittim- or Tiss- 

 wood. Bell- or wild olive-tree. March-April. 



2. STYRAX [Tourn.] L. Sp. PI. 444. 1753. 



Shrubs or small trees, with alternate leaves, deciduous in our species, and rather large 

 mostly with drooping flowers, in lateral or terminal fascicles or leafy racemes, appearing 

 before or with the leaves. Calyx persistent, nearly inferior, its tube campanulate, adnate 

 to the lower part of the ovary, its limb minutely 5-toothed. Corolla S-parted or 5-divided, 

 the segments or petals imbricate, convolute or valvate in the bud. Stamens twice as many 

 as the corolla lobes or petals (rarely fewer) ; filaments flat, monadelphous below or rarely 

 separate, inserted on the base of the corolla ; anthers linear. Ovary nearly superior, mostly 

 3-celled at the base; ovules several in each cavity, ascending; stigma 3-toothed, 3-lobed or 

 capitate. Fruit globose or oblong, nearly dry, coriaceous or crustaceous, commonly only 

 i-seeded, 3-valved at the summit. [Greek name of Storax.] 



About 75 species, natives of America, Asia and southern Europe. Besides the following, 2 

 others occur in the southern and western United States. Type species: Styrax officinalis L. 



Foliage and inflorescence glabrous ; calyx glandular-scurfy. i. S. americana. 

 Lower surfaces of the leaves and inflorescence canescent or tomentose. 



Leaves oblong or oval, i'-2 l / 2 ' long. 2. S. pulveriilenta. 



Leaves obovate or oval, 2'-6' long. 3. 5". grandifolia. 



