130 Trees with Simple Leaves. [A in 



Genus LIQUIDAMBER, L. (Sweet Gum.) 

 Fig. 67. Sweet Gum, Bilsted. L. styraciflua, L. 



Leaves, SIMPLE ; ALTERNATE ; EDGE DEEPLY LOBED (lobes 

 finely and sharply toothed throughout). 



Outline, rounded. The lobes are five to seven, radiating 

 from the base. Apex of the lobes, pointed. Base 

 of the leaf, heart-shape. 



Leaf, three to seven inches in diameter, smooth and 

 shining, with a pleasant odor when bruised. Ribs 

 tufted at their angles. 



Bark, gray ; usually strongly winged with corky ridges 

 along the branchlets. In the South, a spicy gum, 

 from which the tree takes its name, oozes from the 

 bark. 



Fruit, small woody pods are collected into a round ball. 

 These usually contain a few good seeds and a large 

 number of others that resemble saw-dust. Septem- 

 ber. 



Found, from Connecticut to Illinois, and southward. It 

 reaches its finest growth -and is very common in the 

 bottom lands of the Mississippi basin. 



A fine tree sixty to seventy feet high, or southward 

 one hundred feet and more. The wood is valuable, and 

 would be better appreciated except for the difficulty 

 of seasoning it. It is sometimes used as a substitute 

 for Black Walnut. Its gum is used medicinally. 



NOTE i. See Mulberry, under A, //., page 50. 



NOTE 2. See Paper Mulberry, under A, //., page 52. 



NOTE 3. See Silver Poplar, with its genus, under A, II. , page 94. 



