Styrax obassia

Styrax obassia is a species of flowering plant in the family Styracaceae. It is native to eastern China, Korea, and Japan^[1] (Hokkaido).

Styrax obassia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Styracaceae
Genus:	Styrax
Species:	S. obassia
Binomial name
Styrax obassia Siebold & Zucc.

Illustration from Philipp Franz von Siebold's Flora Japonica

Taxonomy

The name of the plant is sometimes spelled Styrax obassis,^[1] but the original spelling is obassia.^[2] In the history of botany, different people have used all three grammatical genders for the genus Styrax, and reasonable arguments could be made for treating it as neuter, feminine, or masculine, although it has been recommended that masculine gender should be used.^[3]

Description

Styrax obassia is a small tree or shrub, 10–14 m (33–46 ft) tall.^[1]

Cultivation

Styrax obassia is cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens.

• 
  Closeup of bark
• 
  Closeup of leaves
• 
  Closeup of flowers