Botanical Name: Liquidambar orientalis Mill.
Family: Altingiaceae; Hamamelidaceae
Names in different Indian languages
| English | Storax, Oriental Sweet Gum. |
|---|---|
| Hindi | silaras |
| Kannada | Kundurka |
| Malayalam | Arabikunturukkam, turuskam |
| Sanskrit | Turushka, Silhaka |
| Tamil | Neri-arishippal |
| Telugu | Silarasu |
| Unani | Ambar Saayil, Silaaras |
| Folk |
Synonyms
Turushka, Silhaka, Kapitaila
Morphology
Oriental sweet gum is a deciduous tree, 30-35 m in height with a trunk of 100 cm in diameter. The unisexual flowers bloom from March – April. The fruits ripen in November – December and the seeds are wind dispersed. The tree is very attractive and especially valued for its colourful autumn leafs. Oriental sweet gum trees favour an elevation of between 0-400 m, a mean annual rainfall of 1000-1200 mm and a mean annual temperature of 18°C. The tree's optimal growth is on rich, deep and moist soils such as bogs, river banks and coastal areas but it is also able to grow on slopes and dry soil.
uses:
anti-inflammatory, stimulating expectorant, antiparasitic,
antiseptic, antimicrobial.
Used externally in scabies, ringworm and other skin diseases
Chemicals
cinnamin acid esters, cinnamyl cinnamate (styracin), phenylpropyl cinnamate; triterpene acids; vanillin; styrene