) 
IDENTIFICATION OF TRUE MAHOGANY. 15 
The rays are not distinctly visible without a lens on the cross- 
section. On radial surfaces they appear as fine reddish-brown 
"flakes." 
RED GUM. 
(Liquldambar styraciflua Linn.) 
Witch Hazel Family (Hamamelidace^e). 
othee names. 
Sweet gum; star-leaved gum; hazel wood; satin walnut (Europe) ; 
sap gum (sap wood only). 
WHERE GROWN. 
In the United States south of a line from Connecticut through 
southern Illinois and Eastern Texas, except in southern Florida. 
It is very uncommon in the Southern Appalachian Mountains and 
the surrounding highlands, but is found on the mountains of Central 
and Southern Mexico and on the highlands of Guatemala. Most 
abundant commercially in the bottom lands of the lower Mississippi 
Valley. 
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. 
The wood is moderately heavy and moderately hard. It usually 
has interlocked grain, which causes it to warp, especially when plain 
sawed, unless properly seasoned. 
The heartwood is reddish-brown, varying more or less in shade. 
It often contains darker streaks which add to its beauty. The sap- 
wood is pinkish white unless blued by stain. It is often wide and is 
sold separately as " sap gum." 
STRUCTURE. 
The pores are so small that they can not be seen without a good 
magnifying glass. (See fig. 10.) This feature distinguishes red 
gum from mahogany and mahogany-like woods. The pores are of 
uniform size and distribution throughout each annual ring, making 
it difficult to differentiate each year's growth, although on careful 
examination with a lens a fine line can be seen separating the annual 
growth layers. 
The rays are fairly distinct, but not at all conspicuous without a 
lens on either an end or a radial surface, since they are relatively 
small and of about the same color as the surrounding wood. 
Since the annual rings, pores, or rays do not stand out clearly, red 
gum has no characteristic figure except for the darker streaks in 
some grades. 
