Liquidambar styraciflua Sweetgum
Family Hamamelidaceae
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Description
Growth Form: Large tree.
Leaves: 7.5-20cm (3-8in) long, star-shaped, usually with 5 (sometimes 7) lobes, long petioles, edges finely toothed.
Flowers: Small in greenish round clusters, male in several on stalk, female drooping ball, April through May.
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Leaf
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Fruit,
(c) Dan L. Perlman/EcoLibrary.org
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Fruits: 2.5-3cm (1-1.25in), hanging brown, prickly spheres on long stem. September through November.
Buds: Many glossy scales with hairy fringe.
Bark: Gray, furrowed and ridged. Twigs often have corky wings.
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Fruits
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Habitat and Range
Mesic soils in lowland woods and woodlands, from Illinois and Connecticut south to Florida and Texas.
Season
Sap can be harvested year round.
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Corky wings on a twig,
(c) Dan L. Perlman/EcoLibrary.org

Buds and twig without corky wings,
(c) Dan L. Perlman/EcoLibrary.org
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Fun Facts
Sweetgum is an extremely important timber tree, second in production behind oak.
Its seeds are eaten by chipmunks, a variety of songbirds, and wild turkey, among other animals.
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