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Useful Tropical Plants

Styrax argenteus

C.Presl

Styracaceae

+ Synonyms

Strigilia argentea (C. Presl) Miers

Styrax magnus Lundell

Styrax myristicifolius Perkins

Styrax pilosus (Perkins) Standl.

Styrax polyanthus Perkins

Styrax polyneurus Perkins

Styrax vulcanicola Standl. & Steyerm.

Common Name:

Styrax argenteus
Flowering plant at San Francisco Botanical Garden, California
Photograph by: Stan Shebs
Creative Commons License
Styrax argenteus Styrax argenteus Styrax argenteus Styrax argenteus Styrax argenteus

General Information

Styrax argenteus is an evergreen tree usually growing up to 20 metres tall, but with occasional specimens to 30 metres.
The tree is harvested from the wild for its aromatic resin, which is used locally.

Known Hazards

The bark is used to poison fish[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
628
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Volume 84
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
1997
ISBN
 
Description
Includes a treatment of the genus Styrax in Central America.
].

Botanical References

628
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Volume 84
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
1997
ISBN
 
Description
Includes a treatment of the genus Styrax in Central America.

Range

Central America - Panama to Mexico.

Habitat

Humid, seasonal evergreen and deciduous forest; pasture; open scrub; often along waterways; in moist ravines; dry limestone ridges; forest edges; disturbed slopes, and with various types of secondary growth at elevations from 100 - 1,700 metres[
628
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Volume 84
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
1997
ISBN
 
Description
Includes a treatment of the genus Styrax in Central America.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height20.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The fruits are sold in local markets[
628
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Volume 84
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
1997
ISBN
 
Description
Includes a treatment of the genus Styrax in Central America.
]. The report is unclear as to whether they are sold as a food or for their aromatic properties[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A resin obtained from the tree is used as an incense in churches[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. The concept of this species has changed since reports of its use as an incense were made. It is possible that this use applies solely to a species that was formerly considered to be part of S. Argenteus[
628
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Volume 84
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
1997
ISBN
 
Description
Includes a treatment of the genus Styrax in Central America.
].

The flowers are boiled with lime leaves and the water used as a perfume[
628
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Volume 84
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
1997
ISBN
 
Description
Includes a treatment of the genus Styrax in Central America.
].

The fruits are sold in local markets[
628
Title
Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Volume 84
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden
Year
1997
ISBN
 
Description
Includes a treatment of the genus Styrax in Central America.
]. The report is unclear as to whether they are sold as a food or for their aromatic properties[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Styrax+argenteus>

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