STORAX

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin, alteration of Latin styrax, from Greek Date: 14th century 1. a fragrant balsam obtained from the bark of an Asian tree ( Liquidambar orientalis ) of the witch-hazel family that is used as an expectorant and sometimes in perfumery, a balsam from the sweet gum that is similar to ~, any of a genus ( Styrax of the family Styracaceae, the ~ family) of trees or shrubs with usually hairy leaves and white flowers in drooping racemes