io6 THE PRINCIPAL SPECIES OF WOOD. 



Sweet Gum. Liquidambar siyraciflua Linn. 



Nomenclature. (Sud worth.) 



Sweet Gum (local and com- Red Gum (Va., Ala., Miss., 



mon name). Tex., La.). 



Liquidambar (R. I., N. Y., Gum, Gum Tree (Va., S. C., 



Del., N. J., Pa., La., Tex., La.). 



Ohio, 111.). Alligatorwood, Blisted (N. J.). 



Locality. 



Connecticut to Florida, westward intermittently to Illinois and 

 Texas, Mexico. Greatest development in basin of Mississippi 

 River. 



Features of Tree. 



Eighty to one hundred feet or more in height, three to five feet 

 in diameter. Tall straight trunk, corky ridges frequent on 

 branches. Star-shaped leaves turn to brilliant scarlet in 

 autumn, round balls on long stems. 



Color, Appearance, or Grain of Wood. 



Heartwood rich brown suggesting black walnut, sapwood 

 nearly white, close-grained, compact structure. 



Structural Qualities of Wood. 



Heavy, rather soft, strong, stiff, durable when exposed ,f shrinks 

 and warps badly in seasoning, receives high polish. 



Representative Uses of Wood. 



Veneers, cabinet-work, substitute for black walnut, shingles, clap- 

 boards, paving-blocks, wooden plates, carpentry, boxes, staves. 



Weight of Seasoned Wood in Pounds per Cubic Foot. 



37 (U. S. Forestry Div.).* 



36. 

 Modulus of Elasticity. 



1,700,000 (average of 118 tests by U. S. Forestry Div.).* 



1,220,000. 



Modulus of Rupture. 



9500 (average of 118 tests by U. S. Forestry Div.).* 

 9200. 



Remarks. 



Wood sometimes commercially known as satin walnut and 

 sometimes as star-leaved gum. Large specimens often have 

 hollow butts. Clear wood is obtained in large boards. The 

 wood is tasteless and is use 1 for barrels. 



* See page 8. 



t E. C. Woodward, C. E., Division Engineer Texas & Pacific Ry., re{x>rts 

 " gum " ties good after 5 years' service. They hold spikes well. 



