What is "myroxylon"

Myroxylon \My*rox"y*lon\, prop. n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? a sweet juice distilling from a plant + ? wood.] (Bot.) A genus of leguminous trees of tropical America, the different species of which yield balsamic products, among which are balsam of Peru, and balsam of Tolu. The species were formerly referred to Myrospermum.

The genus Myroxylon was originally described in 1753 by Linnaeus, such description was made using a specimen collected in the province of Cartagena (at the time Tolú was located in the province of Cartagena), and named it Toluifera balsamum. The genus ''Myroxylon'' was first established by Linneaeus filus in 1781, when described Myroxylon peruiferum based on a specimen collected by Mutis in South America Latex from Myroxylon sp trees is the source of Balsam of Peru and Tolu Balsam (which differ in production) and composition

Some authors recognise infra-specific taxa based, mainly, in their balsam phitochmestry; while other authors do not recognise such categories. There are reports of differences in composition of balsams obtained from M. balsamum, M. balsamum (var pereirae) y M. peruiferum.

It is in the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family of flowering plants. There are two species, M. balsamum and M. peruiferum.