STYRAX BENZOIN. ORD. XVII. Bicornes. | 295 
together: the filaments are ten, of the length of the calyx, ad- 
hering at the base, bearded towards the top, forming a circle upon 
the receptacle in which they are inserted, and crowned with linear 
erect antherz: the germen is oval, downy, and placed above the 
insertion of the corolla: the style is filiform, longer than the 
stamina, and teminated with a simple stigma: the fruit is similar 
to that of the Styrax officinale.* 
The botanical character of this tree was entirely mistaken by 
modern botanists, even till the year 1787, when that excellent 
naturalist, Mr. Dryander, fully ascertained it to be a styrax.* This 
was done at the request of Sir Joseph Banks, who obtained a proper 
specimen for the purpose from Mr. Marsden at Sumatra: and as 
we have copied the figure given by Mr. Dryander, we shall also 
transcribe the following observations with which it is introduced. 
* Though Garctas as Horro, Grim, and Syzvius,® were acquainted 
with the real tree from which Benjamin, or Benzoin, is collected, 
* Descriptio botanica a cl. Dryander. 
Rami terctes, tomentosi, — 
Folia alterna, petiolata, oblonga, integerrima, acuminata, venosa, supra glabra, 
subtus tomentosa, palmaria, Petioli teretes, striati, canaliculati, tomentosi, 
brevissimi. 
Racemi axiilares, compositi, longitudine fere foliorum. Pedunculi communes to- 
mentosi ; parttales alterni, patentes, tomentosi. Pedicelli brevissimi. Flores 
_ secundi. 
Calyx campanulatus, obsoletissime quinquedentatus, extus tomentosus, linea longior. _ 
Petala quinque, (basi forte connata) linearia, obtusa, extus tomento tenuissimo 
cinerea, calyce quadruplo longiora. 
Filamenta decem, receptaculo inserta, petalis paulo breviora, inferne connata ia 
cylindrum longitudine calycis, saperne infra antheras cliata. Anthere 
lineares, filamentis longitudinaliter adnatx, iisque dimidio breviores, 
Germen superum, ovatum, tomentosum. Stylus filiformis, staminibus longior , 
Stigma. simplex. 
*L.c. Before this time however Sir Joseph Banks seemed to have no doubt that 
the Benjamin-tree was a styrax. Vide Loner in Banning. Med. Journ, P. 5p. ° 
50 
. » Vide lib, in Synon, cit, 
~ 
