Liquidambar styraciflua
Copyright, Mark
Brand The Sweetgum is a large
tree, growing up to 100 feet tall. It has a straight
trunk,
up to three feet wide. Sweetgums grow in woods
and along streambanks and lakes. Young Sweetgums are
pioneer
plants, growing quickly and taking over a field. Sweetgums are easy to
identify by their leaves. Leaves are star-shaped with five
pointy lobes,
and a long stalk. Fully grown leaves are about six inches
long, and bright green. In the Fall, leaves turn
red. Copyright, Mark
Brand Copyright, Mark
Brand Sweetgums are aromatic,
meaning they have a pleasant smell. You can crush a leaf to
get a good sense of this. Bark of Sweetgums is gray
and has deep furrows
(little ditches). Sweetgum flowers are
tiny, greenish, and ball-like. They grow in
clusters. Fruits are spiky green
balls that turn brown with age. They are a little over an
inch wide, and dangle on a long stalk.
Each ball has prickly points that open to let seeds out. Two
winged seeds
come from each hole. Seeds are mostly spread
by the wind.
