Styracaceae
Quick Summary
The Styracaceae, commonly known as the silver bells family, is a group of evergreen or deciduous trees and shrubs found in warm temperate to tropical regions worldwide. This family comprises about 11 genera and 160 species, with Styrax being the largest genus.1
Key characteristics of Styracaceae include:
* Hairs: They typically have stellate or scaly hairs.1
* Leaves: Leaves are spirally arranged and toothed.1
* Flowers: Flowers are often bell-shaped, usually white, and insect-pollinated.1
* Fruits: They possess winged fruits that are dispersed whole, or rarely, drupes.1
Some species are cultivated for their ornamental flowers, and the Styrax genus yields a medicinally important resin. The family is also characterized by flowers with a 5-lobed corolla and 10 stamens, and a dry or drupaceous fruit.12
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