Styracaceae

Styracaceae 

(storax), a family of dicotyledonous plants including trees and strubs. The leaves are alternate and often covered with stellate or squamose hairs; other parts of the plant, including the stem and axis of inflorescence, are covered with similar hairs. The regular flowers are usually bisexual and four-or five-parted. The fruit is often a capsule, drupe, or nutlet. There are about 150 species, belonging to 12 genera. The plants are found predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions of East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Americas. There is one genus in tropical West Africa and one in the Mediterranean region. Most important are species of the genus Styrax, from which valuable resins, aromatic oils, and other products used in medicine and perfumery are obtained. The resin benzoin is obtained from the species S. benzoin and S. tonkinense. Some species of the family Styracaceae are cultivated as ornamentals.