HAMAMELIDEZ. SILVA 
OF NORTH AMERICA. 
9 
In the United States Liquidambar is little injured by the attacks of insects,’ and does not suffer 
seriously from fungal diseases.” 
The generic name, from liquidus and the Arabic word ambar, adopted by Linnzus in allusion to 
the fragrant juices of the tree, was at first applied by Hernandez* to the American species or to some 
other balsamic Mexican tree. 
1 Liquidambar in the United States is nearly exempt from inju- 
ries inflicted by insects. There is no record of damage to the wood 
by borers. The most conspicuous of the foliage-eating insects 
found on the American species belong to the family Bombycide ; 
the large American silk-worms of the Luna, Cecropia, Polyphemus, 
and Promethea moths feed upon it, although rarely in sufficient 
numbers to cause serious injury. Liquidambar is sometimes also 
attacked by the Fall Web-worm, Hyphantria cunea, Drury ; and 
in southern Kentucky during the summer months a Leaf-miner, 
Phyllocnistis liquidambarisella, Chambers, has been found making 
long winding linear mines in the upper surface of the leaves (Cinn. 
Quart. Jour. Sci. ii. 106). 
2 Nearly eighty species of fungi have already been noticed on 
Liquidambar in the United States, although few of them are pecul- 
iar to the tree or do it any particular harm. Among the species 
found only on Liquidambar the following may be mentioned : Valsa 
Liquidambaris, Curtis, Seiridium Liquidambaris, Berkeley & Curtis, 
Septoria Liquidambaris, Cooke & Ellis. 
3 Nov. Pl. Hist. lib. i. pt. ii. cap. 18 (Ximenes, Spanish ed. 
Mexico, 1615). — C. Bauhin, Prodr. 158 ; Pinaz, 502. 
