| Styracaceae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Halesia carolina | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Styracaceae Dumortier |
| Genera | |
See text | |
TheStyracaceae are a smallfamily offlowering plants in the orderEricales, containing 12 genera and about 160 species oftrees andshrubs. The family occurs in warm temperate and subtropical regions of theNorthern Hemisphere.[1][2]
The family is characterised by spirally arranged simpleleaves with nostipules; symmetrical whiteflowers with a corolla of two to five (sometimes seven) fused petals; and thefruit usually is a drycapsule, sometimes winged, less often a fleshydrupe, with one or twoseeds.
Most are large shrubs to small trees 3–15 m tall, butHalesia monticola (H. carolina var.monticola) is larger, with trees 39 m tall known in theGreat Smoky Mountains National Park inNorth Carolina.
Several genera include species popular asornamental trees valued for their decorative white flowers.Benzoin resin, used inherbal medicine andperfumes, is extracted from the bark ofStyrax species.
| Styracaceae | |
The genusPamphilia, sometimes regarded as distinct, is now included withinStyrax on genetic data.[1][3]Phylogenetic studies suggestHalesia is notmonophyletic and one species has now been transferred to the new genusPerkinsiodendron.[4]
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