...Wet
...Moist
...Variable
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
You may also want to check Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina
Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Saxifragales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA (11/30/12):
Liquidambar styraciflua
FAMILY
Altingiaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Liquidambar styraciflua
FAMILY
Hamamelidaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (1968) 095-01-001:
Liquidambar styraciflua
FAMILY
Hamamelidaceae
COMMON NAME:
Sweetgum
Click or hover over the thumbnails to see larger pictures.
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USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913 pnd_list2_001_lvd
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JK Marlow jkm0301a_13a
January Greenville County SC
Roadside
Tall & straight with a very compact pyramidal crown, per Teaching the Trees by Joan Maloof.
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JK Marlow jkm170103_058
January Greenville County SC
Some people refer to Sweetgum's corky, winged stems as "bacon on a stick!"
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Richard and Teresa Ware rtw_l_styraciflua_4
January
Styles indurate [hardened] and spiny in fruit, incurved, per Flora of North America.
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JK Marlow jkm0403p_34
March Greenville County SC
Bunched Arrowhead Heritage Preserve
The corky bark seen on some twigs provides texture and winter appeal, per Landscaping with Native Trees.
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JK Marlow jkm100314_126
March Decatur County GA
The luna moth (Actias luna) prefers sweetgum in eastern forests, per Bringing Nature Home.
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Richard and Teresa Ware rtw_l_styraciflua_2
March
Produces an aromatic balsamic oleo-resin called American styrax or storax, per Flora of North America.
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JK Marlow jkm0204a_20
April Anderson County SC
Sweetgum trees don't begin to flower until at least 20 years old, per Teaching the Trees by Joan Maloof.
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Gill Newberry gn05_liquidamber_fruits
May
Flower heads develop into spherical compound fruit with multiple capsules, per Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide.
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Richard and Teresa Ware rtw_l_styraciflua
September
Fruit a spiny ball of many capsules, persistent, woody, per Native Trees of the Southeast, An Identification Guide.
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Richard and Teresa Ware rtw_l_styraciflua_1
September
Wood is used for cabinet making, furniture, veneer, barrels, and wooden dishes, per Flora of North America.
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Richard and Teresa Ware rtw_l_styraciflua_6
September
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Paul Thompson pstliquidambar_styracifl
September?
Crushed leaves have a pungent odor. — Clemson Extension
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JK Marlow jkm0411h_34
November Greenville County SC
Roadside
The Aztecs used the aromatic sap of sweetgums as medicine, per Teaching the Trees by Joan Maloof.
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JK Marlow jkm0411h_37
November Greenville County SC
Roadside
A single tree often has green, yellow, orange, dark red and purple leaves, per Weakley's Flora.
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JK Marlow s011111_n
November Greenville County SC
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JK Marlow s011111_o
November Greenville County SC
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JK Marlow s011117_d
November Greenville County SC
Star-shaped leaves are finely toothed, per Woody Plants of the Blue Ridge.
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JK Marlow jkm081208_026
December Greenville County SC
The sap was previously gathered as a source of chewing gum, per Weakley's Flora.
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JK Marlow jkm081208_031
December Greenville County SC
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Richard and Teresa Ware rtw_l_styrac_1_twigs
December Floyd County GA