American Sweetgum
Latin name: Liquidambar styraciflua
Etymology: Liquidambar styraciflua gets its name from the resin the tree produces. The genus name comes from the Latin words for ‘liquid’ (liquidus) and ‘amber’ (ambar) while the species name is derived from the Latin words for ‘resin’ (styrax) and ‘flowing’ (fluens).
Family: Altingiaceae (Sweetgums)
Origin: Eastern US and Mexico
Native habitats: Wet woods and coastal plains.
Look for sweetgum’s distinctive star-shaped leaves throughout Herrontown Woods. Quick to sprout in abandoned fields, sweetgum often dominates young woodlands, yet grows sufficiently tall to survive in mature woods. Branches are alternate, often with corky ridges. In fall, the leaves can turn brilliant combinations of red, yellow, orange, and purple. In winter, look for the prickly brown ball-shaped fruits high in the canopy or on the ground.
Description: Sweetgums grow 50-150 feet tall and 3-5 feet in diameter. Leaves are star-shaped, toothed and hairless with 3-7 but generally 5 lobes that are fragrant when crushed. They measure between 5-8 inches and turn bright red, purple, yellow or orange in the fall. The mature bark is grayish and deeply grooved - older bark gets neither peeling nor shreddy. Branches can be covered with corky ‘wings’. Flowers are non-showy, yellow-green and appear in spherical heads between April and May. Fruits are distinct prickly, long-stemmed brown balls hanging from branches from September until November or later.
Similar species: While the leaves might be superficially similar to those of the Maple (Acer) genus, Liquidambar leaves are glossy and leathery and positioned singly (alternate), not in pairs (opposite) on the stems.
Wildlife value: American Sweetgum is an important host for the larvae of Imperial Moth and Hickory Horned Devil. The seeds are eaten by birds, chipmunks and squirrels.
Uses: The gum obtained from the trunks of Liquidambar plants was traditionally used for a variety of purposes, including chewing gum, incense, perfumes, folk medicines and flavorings.
American Sweetgum is one of the most important commercial hardwoods in the US and is widely used for furniture and other wooden items. The leaves, bark, and seeds of this genus of plants are a source of shikimic acid which is a precursor to the production of the active ingredient in the antiviral drug Tamiflu®.
