Liquidambar orientalis
Liquidambar orientalis, commonly known as the Oriental sweetgum, is a deciduous tree in the family Altingiaceae. It is native to the eastern Mediterranean region, particularly in Turkey and the Greek Islands. The tree is renowned for its distinctive star-shaped leaves and its aromatic resin, known as storax.
Description[edit | edit source]
Liquidambar orientalis can grow up to 30 meters in height. The tree has a straight trunk with a diameter of up to 1 meter. The bark is grayish-brown and deeply furrowed. The leaves are palmate, with five to seven lobes, and turn a brilliant red, orange, or yellow in the autumn.
Habitat[edit | edit source]
The Oriental sweetgum thrives in temperate climates and is commonly found in mixed forests, along riverbanks, and in areas with rich, well-drained soils. It prefers full sun to partial shade and is often found at altitudes ranging from sea level to 1,200 meters.
Uses[edit | edit source]
The resin, storax, extracted from Liquidambar orientalis has been used for centuries in traditional medicine, perfumery, and as incense. The wood of the tree is also valued for its hardness and is used in furniture making and carpentry.
Conservation Status[edit | edit source]
Liquidambar orientalis is listed as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, its natural habitat is under threat due to deforestation and land conversion for agriculture.
Related Species[edit | edit source]
Liquidambar orientalis is closely related to other species in the genus Liquidambar, including:
- Liquidambar styraciflua (American sweetgum)
- Liquidambar formosana (Chinese sweetgum)
Gallery[edit | edit source]
- Liquidambar orientalis leaves.jpg
Leaves of Liquidambar orientalis
- Liquidambar orientalis bark.jpg
Bark of Liquidambar orientalis
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External Links[edit | edit source]
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
