162 
“thin the blood”. The bark yields a strong aromatic oil which is 
used in medicine and in the manufacture of perfumery. 
Horticultura! value. Adapted to almost all kinds of soil, and 
grows rapidly. It develops a large tap root which makes it difficult 
to transplant. It may be propagated by seed or planting small 
seedlings. It is a desirable tree for ornamental planting on account 
of its rich green foliage and varied shaped leaves, which are velvety 
while expanding and in autumn turn from green to orange-yellow 
or bright red. The clusters of blue-black fruit in autumn intensify 
the decorative effect. 
ALTINGIACEZ. Sweer Gum Famity. 
LIQUIDAMBAR. Sweer Gum. 
(From the Latin, liquidum, fluid, ambar, amber, in allusion to the fragrant terebinthine exudation.) 
Liquidambar Styraciflua Linneus. Swreer Gum. Gum. Plate 
74. Bark usually deeply furrowed; young branches largely smooth 
though some occur with more or less corky wings; leaves alternate, 
nearly round in outline, about 13 em. (5 inches) wide, cleft into 5-7 
wedge-shaped lobes, truncate or heart-shaped at the base, margin 
serrate, hairy on upper surface when expanding, soon glabrate or 
nearly so, aromatic when bruised; flowers appearing soon after the 
leaves, flowering season March, April or May; fruit a globular, 
horny aggregate of carpels, 38-4 em. (114-1!% inches) in diameter, 
frequently remaining on the tree during the winter. 
Distribution. Connecticut west to southeastern Missouri and 
eastern Texas, south to the Gulf States, and again appearing in 
Mexico and on the highlands of Guatemala. In Indiana it is con- 
fined to the southern half of the State. It is somewhat frequent 
along the inundated banks of streams, and in the southwestern 
counties it is frequent in wet woods. On some of the “flats” of 
the southern part of the State it is the principal species. Its occur- 
ance in our area is the northern limit of its distribution and it does 
not grow so large in the northern counties as it does in the south- 
western part of the State where it attains its greatest size. In the 
forest it is a straight tall tree with a few short side branches. 
The published records of the distribution are as follows: Clark 
(Baird and Taylor) and (Smith); Decatur (Ballard): Franklin (Hay- 
