Styrax officinalis
νύμφην τ' ἄνυμφον παρθένον τ' ἀπάρθενον → wife unwed and virgin that is no virgin | bride that is no bride, virgin that is virgin no more | virgin wife and widowed maid | unwed bride and ravished virgin
Latin > Greek
Wikipedia EN
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Styrax officinalis is a deciduous shrub reaching a height of 2–5 metres (6 ft 7 in – 16 ft 5 in). It has a simple, relaxed form, with very thin elliptical leaves 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long and 3.5–5.5 cm (1+1⁄2–2 in) wide, alternate and widely spaced on thin, reddish stems, with a tight, dark bark on basal stems. A small very light green, stalked axillary bud is associated with each leaf.
This plant is the "official" source of styrax, an herbal medicine known from ancient times. Some believe its oleoresin to have been the stacte used together with frankincense, galbanum, and onycha to make Ketoret, the Tabernacle incense of the Old Testament.
