448 STYRACACEjE. 



bilocular, bivalvular capside, with both septicidal and loculicidal 

 dehiscence. Seeds 00; testa smooth and coricaceous; embryo straight, 

 in the axis of fleshy albumen; cotyledons oval, obtuse; radicle long, 

 pointing to the hilum. Evergreen shrubs or trees, with opposite, 

 entire, exstipulate leaves, and solitary yellow flowers. Natives of 

 Mexico and Peru. Their properties unknown. There is 1 genus 

 mentioned, including 3 species. Example Columellia. 



931. Order 117. styracaceie (Symplocineae of Don), the Storax 

 Family. (Monopet. Perygn.) Calyx persistent, with an entire or a 5- 

 or 4-divided limb. Corolla gamopetalous, regular, inserted in the 

 calyx; aestivation imbricated or valvate. Stamens definite or 00, 

 attached to the corolline tube, of unequal length; filaments often 

 slightly united at their base in one or more parcels; anthers innate, 

 dithecal, introrse. Ovary either free or cohering more or less to the 

 calycine tube, 2-5-celled, the septa occasionally deficient towards the 

 centre; ovules 2-4 in each cell or 00, pendulous, sometimes the upper 

 ones ascending; style simple; stigma simple. Fruit enclosed in the 

 calyx, drupaceous, usually unilocular by abortion. Seeds usually soli- 

 tary, erect or suspended; embryo slender, in the axis of fleshy albu- 

 men; cotyledons flat, foliaceous; radicle long, pointing to the hilum. 

 Trees or shrubs, with alternate, exstipulate leaves, and frequently 

 stellate hairs. They are chiefly natives of warm countries. There are 

 two sections: 1. Styracese, with a more or less valvate aestivation of 

 the corolla, and long anthers. 2. Symploceas, with a quincuncial 

 corolline aestivation, and roundish anthers. Lindley gives 6 genera, 

 including 115 species. Examples Styrax, Halesia, Symplocos. 



932. The plants of the order have in general stimulant, aromatic, 

 and fragrant properties. Styrax offitinale, a tree inhabiting Syria, 

 Arabia, and the southern parts of Europe, is supposed to be the source 

 of the balsamic resinous substance called Storax. The resinous juice 

 is procured after incisions or punctures by insects. Common Storax 

 is imported into Britain from Trieste, in the form of little cakes, having 

 a balsamic odour. Besides resin and a little volatile oil, it contains 

 from 1 to 2 \ per cent, of benzoic acid. It has been employed medi- 

 cinally as a pectoral remedy. Styrax Benzoin is a tree 70 or 80 feet 

 high, a native of Sumatra and Borneo, which yields by incisions the 

 concrete balsamic exudation called Benzoin. When fine, this substance 

 contains about 80 per cent, of resin, and nearly 20 of benzoic acid. 

 It is used medicinally as a stimulant expectorant, and is one of the 

 ingredients in the celebrated Friar's balsam. It exists also in other 

 empirical remedies, such as Kiga balsam and Jesuits' drops. Benzoin is 

 generally used for fumigation and incense. Pastilles are made by mix- 

 ing it with balsam of tolu, sandal- wood, labdanum, charcoal, nitre, gum, 

 and tragacanth. Halesias are the Snow-drop trees of Carolina. Some 

 of the species of Symplocos are used for dyeing; others are used as tea. 



