Styrax officinalis
αἰτήσεις ἀκοὐεις σῶν ἱκετῶν· ταχἐως συνδραμεῖς ἀναπαὐων εὐεργετῶν· ἰάματα παρἐχεις, Ἱερἀρχα, τῇ πρὀς Θεὀν παρρησἰᾳ κοσμοὐμενος → You hear the prayers of your suppliants; quickly you come to their assistance, bringing relief and benefits; you provide the remedies, Archbishop, since you are endowed with free access to God.
Latin > Greek
Wikipedia EN
.jpg)
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.
