LIQUIDAMBAR STYRACIFLUA
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Photo Credit: Sweet Gum |
Britton & Brown |
| Botanical name: | Liquidambar styraciflua |
| Common name: | sweet gum, red gum, sapgum, starleaf-gum, bisted |
| Group: | dicot |
| Family: | Hamamelidaceae |
| Growth type: | tree |
| Duration: | perennial, deciduous |
| Origin: | native |
| Foliage: | alternate; simple, 5-7 pointed lobes |
| Fruit: | a dangling spiked ball filled with seeds |
| Habitat: | wide variety of habitats especially rich moist soils |
| Range in New Jersey: | statewide |
| Heritage ranking, if any: | n/a |
| Distribution: |  |
| Misc. | Common wetland tree species, sometimes appearing in large stands after disturbance. Easily identified by its distinctive palmately-lobed leaves and unique fruit, which is a cluster of capsules concreted together to form the characteristic “gumball.” It is a fast growing tree that is adaptive to a great many habitats. USDA cites uses as: lumber, veneer, plywood, slack cooperage, railroad ties, fuel, pulpwood, furniture, veneer, interior trim and papers. Its seeds are consumed by mammals and birds alike. USDA fact sheet |
| Credit: USDA United States Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service data base |
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