176 FAMILIAR TREES AND THEIR LEAVES. 



the American variety, but its leaf is not as large 

 and is more deeply cut ; its shape is very nearly 

 like that of the sugar maple. This tree is not as 

 hardy as the native variety. 



Liquidambar, The liquidambar, sometimes called 



Sweet Gum, or swee t gum, is one of the most mag- 



T . ., ' nificent of our American trees. In 



Liquidambar 



styraciflua. the South it not infrequently reaches 

 a height of 100 or even 140 feet. Its name is derived 

 from liquidus (fluid) and the Arabic ambar (amber), 

 in description of the yellow juice which exudes from 

 the tree ; this has a fragrant, balsamic odor, which 

 evidently accounts for the name sweet gum. The 

 gum is used for medicinal purposes. 



The leaf of this tree is very regular and beautiful 

 in shape as well as coloring ; in the fall of the year 

 it assumes a golden-yellow tint, clouded over irregu- 

 larly with a rich red ; in summer its green is deep, 

 smooth, and shining ; it does not vary much from 

 these hues. I might liken its shape to that of a star- 

 fish, but with broad points and a one-sided radiation. 

 The teeth are very fine and even, and the divisions 

 vary from three to seven ; five is the commonest 

 number. The base of the leaf is, of course, heart- 

 shaped, but sometimes it is flatter in effect than my 

 sketch indicates. There is a little woolly tuft on the 

 back of the leaf just where the ribs meet. 



