62 TIMBER TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



Sweet gum bears fruit annually or every other year, but much 

 of the seed is abortive. Young seedlings are common on damp 

 hillsides and bottom lands that have been cleared, they are also 



MAP OF 



NORTH CAROLINA 



SCALE CF MILE? 



Area in which the SWEET GUM attains its 



largest size and is most abundant 

 (Liquidambar styraciflua, L.) 



HJ Area in which the SWEET GUM is less 

 abimdant and reaches a smaller size. 



frequent in damp pine woods, where, however, they seldom develop 

 into large trees. After sweet gam has been cut a thick growth 

 of the same species usually springs up together with yellow pop- 

 lar, white oak and maple. The largest specimens are frequently 

 hollow at the butt. This tree sprouts freely from the stump. 



The smooth shining leaves are deeply 5 to 7-cleft with sharp 

 pointed finely toothed divisions. The inconspicuous flowers occur 

 in early spring. The fruit is a long- stalked, globular, dry, rough 

 head, hanging on the tree through the winter. The acute ovate 

 winter-buds are dark brown in color. 



The sweet gum has a very large and long tap-root, as well as 

 long superficial roots. 



The wood is heavy, hard, not strong, rather tough, close-grained, 

 and liable to warp and shrink; bright brown in color; the sap- 

 wood nearly white. It takes a good polish and is used for floor- 

 ing, clapboards, cabinet work, veneering, barrels, and street 

 paving. The balsamic exudation is sometimes employed in cases 

 of catarrh and as an ointment. 



Only an inconsiderable quantity has been sawed in the State, 



