Balsam Torchwood

Amyris balsamifera L. Syst. ed. 10. 1000. 1759
Toxicodendron arborescens Mill. Gard. Diet. ed. 8. 1768. Rhus arborescens DC. Prodr. 2 : 73. 1825.
Amyris sylvaHca var. Griseb. Mem. Am. Acad. II. 8: 176. 1860. Elemifera balsamifera Kuntze, Rev. Gen. 100. 1891. Schimmelia oleifera Holmes, Pharm. Jour. London 62 : 53. 1899.
An aromatic shrub 2-4 m. in height, or a medium-sized tree ; branches of the inflorescence and the calyx hispidulous, the hairs commonly persistent in age ; leaves opposite ; leaflets 3 or 5, petioluled, lanceolate to ovate or rhombic-ovate, 3-13 cm. long, 1.3-6 cm. broad, acute to long-acuminate at the apex, cuneate or somewhat rounded at the base, lustrous above, paler and somewhat glaucous beneath, entire or crenulate, with teeth often minute, leathery ; inflorescence terminal or occasionally also lateral and axillary ; petals obovate or oval, 3-3.5 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. broad ; ovary ovoid or oblong-ellipsoid, hispidulous ; stigma sessile or stipitate ; drupe oblong-ovoid to obovoid, occasionally ellipsoid, often tapering at the base into a short neck, 6-14 mm. long, 3.5-9 mm. broad, black, glaucous.
Type locality : Jamaica.
Distribution : .Southern Florida, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, and Porto Rico ; also in South America.