Liquidambar styraciflua L.
American sweetgum, redgum, sweetgum, starleaf-gum
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Hamamelidae Wind-pollinated shrubs
Order Hamamelidales Witch hazels and related plants
Family Hamamelidaceae Witch-hazels
Genus Liquidambar From the Latin liquidus , “liquid, flowing,” and the Arabic ambar or anbar , “ambergris,” in reference to the fragrant gum or resin exuded by this tree
Species styraciflua Flowering with gum, see following entry
About plant names...
American sweetgum is native to the eastern United States and mountainous regions of
Mexico and Guatemala.
Identification: Sweetgum trees have several unusual and
interesting features. They are 60-100′ (18-30 m) tall, and 40-60′ (12-18 m)
wide. Some trees develop corklike ridges on
2-year-old stems (Photo 7 ), or even pyramid-shaped
bumps.
Leaves are distinctively shaped—a 5- or 7-pointed star. Leaf edges have somewhat serrated edges.
When crushed, the leaves produce a camphor-like odor. In the fall, leaves may be shades of red, orange,
deep red, or purplish. Flowers are inconspicuous, yellow-green in color. The distinctive-looking fruits are
tough spiny round or oval balls that persist through the winter.
Online References:
The USDA Plants Database
Www.carolinanature.com
The University of Connecticut Plant Database
The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database
1 · 7/20/2017 · Douthat State Park, Millboro, Virginia · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
2 · 4/7/2012 · Ladew Topiary Gardens, Monkton, Maryland
3 · 7/20/2017 · Douthat State Park, Millboro, Virginia · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm)
4 · 5/6/2011 · Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Chester, Maryland · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
5 · 5/6/2011 · Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Chester, Maryland · ≈ 10 × 15″ (26 × 39 cm)
6 · 5/6/2011 · Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Chester, Maryland · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)
Liquidambar styraciflua description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 11 Jul 2023.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
7 · 5/6/2011 · Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Chester, Maryland · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)
8 · 7/1/2023 · Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield, Virginia
9 · 4/9/2011 · Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis, Maryland · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)
10 · 3/13/2012 · New Jersey · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)
11 · 4/7/2012 · Ladew Topiary Gardens, Monkton, Maryland · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm)
12 · 7/20/2017 · Douthat State Park, Millboro, Virginia · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)
13 · 4/9/2011 · Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis, Maryland · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)
14 · 8/30/2013 · Chris and Kelley’s, Midlothian, Virginia · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)
15 · 11/8/2015 · James River Park System, Virginia
Range:
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