What is the Latin name for sweet gum?
Liquidambar styraciflua
Sweetgum/Scientific names
Liquidambar styraciflua, commonly called sweet gum, is a low-maintenance deciduous shade tree that is native from Connecticut to Florida and Missouri further south to Texas, Mexico and Central America.
How did the sweetgum tree get its name?
The tree gets its name from Native Americans and early pioneers who would chew its hard clumps of resin. This could be obtained by stripping off the bark and allowing the resin to harden. Commercial storax was used in fragrances and medicines as well and is found in related oriental sweet gum plants.
Where does gum wood come from?
American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), also known as American storax, hazel pine, bilsted, redgum, satin-walnut, star-leaved gum, alligatorwood, or simply sweetgum, is a deciduous tree in the genus Liquidambar native to warm temperate areas of eastern North America and tropical montane regions of Mexico and …
Is sweet gum opposite leaves?
Although the leaves have a similar shape to some maple leaves, a quick check of the leaf growth pattern can confirm the tree’s identity. Maple leaves form opposite of each other while the leaves of the Sweet Gum form alternately as shown in the botanical image below.
What are the sticky balls that fall from trees?
If you’ve encountered some round, spiny balls under a tree or maybe still on the plant, and you’re wondering what it could be, it’s likely one of several options: buckeye/horsechestnut (Aesculus), chestnut (Castanea), or sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua).
Is a liquid amber a maple?
Resembling the maple leaf in shape, the leaves of Liquidambar species are palmately lobed and arranged spirally on the twigs, and variegated cultivars are available.
Is a sweetgum tree a maple?
The leaves of a maple tree are very distinct, but that shape does not belong to maple leaves alone—a number of broadleaf trees have maple-like leaves. This list includes sycamore, yellow-poplar, and sweetgum trees.
Are sweet gum trees good for anything?
Sweet gum wood is commercially used for electronic cabinetry, furniture, doors, millwork and paneling. It is also used to make baskets, railroad ties, crates and pallets. Sweet gum wood is also used to make plywood, veneer and upholstered furniture frames.
What kind of tree has little brown balls?
The American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is a fast-growing deciduous tree hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 through 9. This tree is also known as the American planetree or the buttonball tree, due to the brown, spiky seed balls it produces each year.
How do you get rid of sweet gum balls in your yard?
Raking or Blowing Raking with a close-tined rake and bagging is an effective way of removing the balls, as well as for getting exercise. An additional method for removal is by blowing them into a pile with a power blower, ready for bagging. Tall grass interferes with the efficiency of both these methods.
Is Liquidambar an Acer?
Maple (Acer spp.) and liquid amber trees (Liquidambar styraciflua) are similar-looking trees that grow in similar climates. Both maples and liquid amber trees, also known as American sweetgum trees, are prized for their sap.
