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Liquidambar styraciflua L.

American sweetgum, redgum, sweetgum, starleaf-gum

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassHamamelidaeWind-pollinated shrubs
OrderHamamelidalesWitch hazels and related plants
FamilyHamamelidaceaeWitch-hazels
GenusLiquidambarFrom the Latin liquidus, “liquid, flowing,” and the Arabic ambar or anbar, “ambergris,” in reference to the fragrant gum or resin exuded by this tree
SpeciesstyracifluaFlowering 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

Liquidambar styraciflua (American sweetgum, redgum, sweetgum, starleaf-gum)

1 · 7/20/2017 · Douthat State Park, Millboro, Virginia · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Liquidambar styraciflua (American sweetgum, redgum, sweetgum, starleaf-gum)

2 · 4/7/2012 · Ladew Topiary Gardens, Monkton, Mary­land

Liquidambar styraciflua (American sweetgum, redgum, sweetgum, starleaf-gum)

3 · 7/20/2017 · Douthat State Park, Millboro, Virginia · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm)

Liquidambar styraciflua (American sweetgum, redgum, sweetgum, starleaf-gum)

4 · 5/6/2011 · Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Chester, Mary­land · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)

Liquidambar styraciflua (American sweetgum, redgum, sweetgum, starleaf-gum)

5 · 5/6/2011 · Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Chester, Mary­land · ≈ 10 × 15″ (26 × 39 cm)

Liquidambar styraciflua (American sweetgum, redgum, sweetgum, starleaf-gum)

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.

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Liquidambar styraciflua (American sweetgum, redgum, sweetgum, starleaf-gum)

7 · 5/6/2011 · Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Chester, Mary­land · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)

Liquidambar styraciflua (American sweetgum, redgum, sweetgum, starleaf-gum)

8 · 7/1/2023 · Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield, Virginia

Liquidambar styraciflua (American sweetgum, redgum, sweetgum, starleaf-gum)

9 · 4/9/2011 · Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis, Mary­land · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)

Liquidambar styraciflua (American sweetgum, redgum, sweetgum, starleaf-gum)

10 · 3/13/2012 · New Jer­sey · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)

Liquidambar styraciflua (American sweetgum, redgum, sweetgum, starleaf-gum)

11 · 4/7/2012 · Ladew Topiary Gardens, Monkton, Mary­land · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm)

Liquidambar styraciflua (American sweetgum, redgum, sweetgum, starleaf-gum)

12 · 7/20/2017 · Douthat State Park, Millboro, Virginia · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)

Liquidambar styraciflua (American sweetgum, redgum, sweetgum, starleaf-gum)

13 · 4/9/2011 · Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis, Mary­land · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)

Liquidambar styraciflua (American sweetgum, redgum, sweetgum, starleaf-gum)

14 · 8/30/2013 · Chris and Kelley’s, Midlothian, Virginia · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Liquidambar styraciflua (American sweetgum, redgum, sweetgum, starleaf-gum)

15 · 11/8/2015 · James River Park System, Virginia

Range:

About this map...