THE STORAX FAMILY 



STYRACACE^ A. de CandoUe 



HIS family comprises about 7 genera, including about 75 species of 

 trees or shrubs, mostly tropical. They are of minor economic im- 

 portance on account of the balsams, rich in benzoic acid, produced 

 by some of them. Storax, a liquid balsam, is obtained from the inner 

 bark of Styrax officinale Linna;us of the Mediterranean region, and Benzoin, a 

 soUd one, is obtained from Styrax Benzoin Dryander, of the Malay region. Many 

 of the species are very ornamental and are frequently planted in parks and on 

 lawns. 



The Styracaceae have alternate, simple leaves without stipules. The flowers 

 are perfect, regular, arranged in racemes, cymes or fascicles. The calyx is wholly 

 or partly joined to the ovary, 5-lobed, sometimes 4- to 8-lobed; the corolla is of 5, 

 rarely 4 to 8, petals, usually little united; the stamens are twice the number of the 

 corolla divisions or sometimes more, joined in one series to the corolla-tube, their 

 filaments flattened and somewhat united at the base; anthers introrse; the ovary 

 is partly superior, 2- to 5-celled, each cell containing i or few ovules; the style 

 is simple and slender; stigma simple or 2- to s-lobed. The fruit is a drupe or 

 capsule, usually i-seeded; the endosperm of the seed is fleshy or homy, the 

 embryo straight. 



Two genera occur in our area, Styrax, represented by four shrubby species, 

 and the following. 



THE SILVERBELLS 



GENUS HALESIA ELLIS 

 Mohrodendron Britton 



HE genus Halesia comprises only 3 species, peculiar to the south- 

 eastern United States, 2 of which are trees; the third is a shrub with 

 small flowers and fruit. They are of no economic value except for 

 ornamental purposes. 

 They have alternate, deciduous leaves. The flowers are in lateral, usually 

 drooping racemes; the calyx is joined to the ovary, 4- or 5-ribbed, and lobed; 

 the corolla is bell-shaped, 4- or 5-lobed, large, white and showy; the usually 8 

 or 16 stamens are in one series, slightly joined to the corolla, anthers elongated; 

 the ovary is inferior, 2- or 4-celled, the style elongated and tipped by a minute 

 stigma; ovules 4 in each cavity. The fruit is elongated, nut-like, dry, tipped with 



791 



