Styrax japonica,
a deciduous small- or tree with dark purple-brown to light
black, smooth barks, inhabits coppices at the foot of mountains,
valleys, or small riversides, growing to 7-8m in height. Leaves are
alternate, 4-8cm long, 2-4cm wide, oval-shaped, with tips pointed,
bases cuneate, margins with shallow serrations otherwise entire. The
new branch's ends hang down 1-6 white flowers, blooming facing
downward. The flowers are with 2-3cm-long petioles, and corollas
measure about 2.5cm in diameter, deeply cleft into 5, with stellate
hairs outside. Stamens are 10 in number, shorter than the corollas,
and pistils are longer than the stamens. Bloom time: May-June. |