Liquidambar styraciflua

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Liquidambar styraciflua
SWEET-GUM
Hamamelidaceae
North America

Location: map coordinates T-7 (south side of parking lot #6),
N 39°11'7'' W 75°32'47''

Planting history: presently unknown.

  • deciduous tree
  • etymology: Liquidambar from liquidus (liquid) and ambar (amber), referring to its sap; styraciflua means flowing with styrax (storax), an aromatic resin (balsalm) used in medicine and perfumes
  • the common name is “sweet-gum” because the hardened sap was formerly used as chewing gum
  • leaves star-shaped, 5-7 lobed; fragrant when crushed; autumn foliage colorful
  • monoecious (separate male and female flowers on same tree); flowers small, clustered in round hanging balls (either male or female)
  • fruits round, woody, spiky, “gum balls”; small seeds eaten by birds
  • stems often winged; branches with spur shoots
  • habitat moist woods, fields

Native species, State Rank S5 (very common in Delaware)

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