State Board of Fokestry. 239 



''thin the blood". The bark yields a strong aromatic oil which is 

 used in medicine and in the manufacture of perfumery. 



Horticultural value. Adapted to almost all kinds of soil, and 

 grows rapidly. It develops a large tap root which makfs 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. 



ALTINGIACE^. Sweet Gum Family. 

 LIQUIDAMBAR. Sweet Gum. 



(From the Latin, Uquidum, fluid, ambar, amber, in allusion to the fragrant terebinthine exudation.) 



Liquidambar Styraciflua Linnaeus. Sweet 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 cm. (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, 3-4 cm. (1^-13^ 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- 



[16—28415] 



