The Tree House Forest Product Information Sheet

No.180 STORAX

COMMON NAME: LEVANT STORAX, STORAX, STYRAX, ORIENTAL SWEET GUM: AMERICAN STORAX, SWEET GUM

GENUS & SPECIES:LIQUIDAMBAR ORIENTALIS, L. STYRACILUA

FAMILY:HAMAMELIDACEAE

FAMILY RELATIONS:STORAX

GENERAL: The Levant Storax tree is native to Asia Minor where it is commonly found growing in coastal situations and can reach a height of 20m. The American Storax tree is native to north and Central America where it can reach 45m in height with a trunk of 1.5m in diameter. Both trees have five lobed, hairless mid-green leaves that turn to brilliant red and orange colours in autumn. American Storax Gum is collected from natural pockets in the trunk from which it exudes. Levant Storax needs to be extracted by beating the bark. The gum is then released to be soaked up by the inner bark. This is then boiled, sometimes in seawater, and pressed and dissolved in alcohol.

ECOLOGY: Both trees are frost hardy and require sun or semi-shade. They flourish best on deep, moist, well-drained soil and dislike dry shallow chalk soils.

CULINARY USES: None

MEDICINAL USES: Storax is an antiseptic, expectorant and stimulant whose main use is as an ingredient of Friar’s Balsam with another Forest Products, Benzoin (Styrax benzoin) (info.sht. No81) Friar’s Balsam is used as an inhalant for coughs and colds but can also be used to soothe cuts and ulcers. Storax is used in the cosmetics and soap industries.

OTHER USES: Levant Storax is used in Pot Pourris to slowly release the aroma. It has a similar use in tobaccos. American Storax is a major timber tree whose uses include furniture, doors, boxes, barrels and crates.