1188 



AUBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. 



PARI III. 



a wall, flowering profusely every year, and ripening fruit. There is also a 

 very fine tree against a wall at Messrs. Loddiges's, which was profusely 

 covered with flowers when we saw it, on June 18. 183G; and with fruit, on 

 August 18. of the same year. 



Properties and Uses. The iStyrax officinale is chiefly useful in a medical 

 point of view; the powerful and fragrant balsam called storax being ob- 

 tained from it. For this purpose, incisions are made in the bark of the 

 trunk and branches, from which incisions the resin issues in a liquid state, anil 

 is either collected in reeds (whence its ancient Greek name of 8turax kala- 

 mites), or left to harden, when it is scraped off in irregular compact masses, 

 interspersed with smaller pieces, which are called tears. Storax is stimulant 

 and expectorant, and was formerly prescribed for asthma and chronic attec- 

 tions of the windpipe ; but, according to Dr. Thompson, it is now scarcely 

 ever used. In Gerard's time, there were made from it " sundry excellent 

 perfumes, pomanders, sweet waters, sweet bags, sweet washing-balls, and divers 

 other sweet chaines and bracelets." In the present day, it is much used in 

 Roman Catholic countries to burn as incense. Chemically, it consists prin- 

 cipally of resin, with a small portion of benzoic acid ; and it dissolves easily 

 in spirits of wine. The common storax of commerce differs from that of the 

 apothecaries, and is a liquid balsam, said to be obtained from Liquidambar 

 ■Styraciflua. 



Soi/, Propagation, ^c. A light sandy soil, rich rather than poor, suits this 

 species best; and it is generally propagated by seeds obtained from the south 

 of France. It will also grow by layers, and by cuttings. It is observed in 

 the Xoiivcau Du Ilaniil, that it does not flower well in pots or boxes ; and 

 that it docs best near Paris when placed against a wall with a southern 

 exposure, and protected during winter. In the neighbourhood of London, 

 however, it does not require protection. Its rate of growth, for the first ten 

 years, is not above 8 in. or 9 in. a year. Price oi plants, in the London 

 nurseries, \s. Gd. each. 



St 2. S. grandifo'lium Ait. The large-leaved Storax. 



Identification. Ait. Hort. Kew., 2. p. 75. ; Purgh Fl. Amer. Sept., 2. p. 450. ; Don's Mill., 4. p. 4. 

 Synonymes. S. officinale Watt. Fl. Carol., 140. ; S. granilifli'iruin Michx. Ft. Bor. Amcr., 2. p. 41. 

 Engravings. Lodd. Bot. Cab., t. 1016. ; Wats. Dend. Brit., 1. 129. ; and our yi^'. 1009. 



Spec. Char., S^c. Leaves broad, obovate, 

 acuminated, green above, but clothed with 

 hoary tomentum beneath. Lower peduncles 

 solitary, 1-flowered. Flowers white. {Dons 

 JMilL, iv. p. 4.) A shrub or low tree, grow- 

 ing from 8 ft. to 10ft. high. A native of 

 North America, in woods, on the banks of 

 rivers from Virginia to Georgia. Introduced 

 in 176.5, and flowering from June to August. 

 It is a fine ornamental shrub, but not com- 

 mon in collections. Ilalcs/a diptera, the 

 leaves of which closely resemble those of 

 Styvax grandifolium, but differ from it in 

 not being downy beneath, is frequently sold 

 for it in the nurseries. It requires the same 

 treatment as S. officinale, of which it appears 

 to us to be only a variety. 



ai 3. S. l^viga'tum Ait. The smootYi-leaved Storax. 



Identification. Ait Hort. Kew., 2. p. 72. ; WiUd. Sp. PI., 2. p. 624 ■ Don's MiP 4 p 4 

 Synonymes S. octandrum VHMt. Stirp. Nov., 2. t. 17. ; S. glabrum Cav. Diss.','f,.'p.'m. t. 188. f. 1., 

 Purs/, H. Amer. Sept., 2. p. 450. ; S. Is ve Wall. Fl. Carol., 140. ; S. americanum Lam. Did., 1. 



p. 8.i. 



Engravings. Bot Cab., t 960. ; Wats. Dend. Brit, t 40. ; and omfig. 1010. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Leaves oval-lanceolate, acute at both ends, glabrous on 

 both surfaces, toothed. Peduncles axillary, or twin, I -flowered. Stamen ,s 



1000 



