THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 27 



Sweet Gum. — Everybody in the Gulf States and for some 

 distance north and east of that region knows the sweet gum 

 (Liquidambar styraciflua) , whether they call it by this name 

 or know it as bilsted, star-leaved gum, or alligator tree. It 

 is not likely, however, that many of them realize that this tree 

 is a close relative of the witch hazel (Hamamelis Virginian®), 

 but both belong to the Hamamelidaceae. Of recent years, 

 the sweet gum has become of much commercial importance 

 and under the name of red gum is now used 'for furniture, 

 interior finish and the like, running a close second to oak in 

 this respect. It is estimated that one-eighth of all the hard- 

 wood still standing in the United States is red gum. Though 

 this tree grows naturally as far north as Connecticut and 

 southern Illinois, it thrives under cultivation much farther 

 from the equator. The brilliant coloring of the leaves in 

 autumn, together with their unusual shape make the trees 

 most desirable specimens for street planting while the curious 

 prickly globes of fruit and the corky winged branches add 

 to their attractions. From wounds in the trunk a clear gum 

 oozes out which is much used as chewing gum in the region 

 where it grows. A single other species is found in Asia 

 Minor. 



Color of Lilium Philadelphicum. — The editor wrote 

 that he would be glad to have my notes on any variation in 

 color that I might find in the wild orange-red, or wood lily 

 {Lilium Philadelphicum). As it blooms abundantly near my 

 home this is no difficult task. I found that the flowers vary 

 from a homely faded orange color through orange-red to a 

 very beautiful shade of red. I selected two that showed the 

 greatest difference in color, brought them into the house and 

 put them side by side in a plain glass vase. It was surprising 



