Liquidambar (genus)

Genus containing four extant species of large, deciduous trees, and several fossil species. The genus was much more widespread in the Tertiary, but has disappeared from Europe, western North America, and the Russian far East due to glaciation and climate change. The trees are valued for resin, timber, and ornament, producing bright red leaves in the fall. The resin from liquidambar trees (storax) has been used in perfumes and embalming.