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storax

Any one of a number of similar complex resins obtained from the bark of several trees and shrubs of the styrax family. The most common of these is liquid storax, a brown or gray semifluid substance of an agreeable aromatic odour and balsamic taste, sometimes used in perfumery, and in medicine as an expectorant.

A yellow aromatic honeylike substance, resembling, and often confounded with, storax, is obtained from the American sweet gum tree (liquidambar styraciflua), and is much used as a chewing gum, called sweet gum, and liquid storax. Cf. Liquidambar.

Origin: L. Storax, styrax, Gr. Cf. Styrax.