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Common Trees 



SWEET GUM 



Liquidambar styraciflua, Linnaeus 



THE SWEET Gum, also called Red Gum and Liquidambar, 

 is a handsome and symmetrical tree. 



The leaves are simple, alternate, 3 to 5 inches long, broader 

 than long, star-shaped, six-pointed. In autumn they turn to 

 a pale orange to deep red, and when crushed give off frag- 

 rant odor. 



The flowers are green 

 and of two kinds. Pol- 

 len-bearing are arranged 

 in tassels 2 to 3 inches 

 long. Seed - producing 

 occur in long - stalked 

 heads. 



The fruit is a long- 

 stalked round head 

 made up of many cap- 

 sules, each containing 

 many small seeds. 



The bark on older 

 trunks is deeply fur- 

 rowed, grayish - brown 

 and scaly. On younger 

 trunks it is smoother 

 and dark gray. The 

 twigs are stout, angu- 

 lar, smooth, with corky 

 winged projections. 

 The buds are sharp- 

 pointed, lustrous brown, fragrant when crushed. 



SWEET GUM 

 One-fourth natural size. 



The wood is rather hard, strong, reddish-brown, with 

 white sapwood. It is used for boxes, crates, furniture and 

 interior finishing. Large quantities are used in imitation 

 of Circassian Walnut. 



The Sweet Gum grows naturally from Connecticut to 

 Florida and as far south as Guatemala. In the swamps of 

 the Coastal Plains it reaches a height of 1 20 feet and a diame- 

 ter of 4 feet. This tree is common on Long Island and 

 Staten Island and northward to the southern edge of the 

 Hudson highlands. It is handsome, has a symmetical form, 

 grows rapidly, produces unique leaves, and has few enemies. 



