Liquidambar styraciflua

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

The American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), also Sweetgum or wrongly called Storaxbaum, is a deciduous tree species from the genus of Sweetgum (Liquidambar ); this is classified currently in the small family of Altingiaceae within the order of Saxifrage -like ( Saxifragales ). Often (Witch Hazel family) the genus Liquidambar less differentiated in the family of Hamamelidaceae.

Dissemination

The American sweetgum comes in North America often in riparian forests. The habitat of the American Amber tree extends from New York to Nicaragua. There the sweet gum is also used heavily forested. The starfish tree is planted in Europe in 1688 as an ornamental tree. There are some forms of culture.

Description

The American Sweetgum is a deciduous tree, the growth heights of up to 45 meters ( in Central Europe, 10 to 20 meters) and has achieved a conical habit. The bark is red-brown at first, later gray-brown; on older wooden form corky wings. The foliage is similar to maple, palmately five to siebenlappig, about 10 to 15 inches long and almost as wide. If one grinds the leaves, they give off a pleasant sweet fragrance. Is known of the American sweetgum for its colorful fall foliage.

The spherical, woody, spiny capsule fruits have a sweetish content.

The American sweetgum has 2n chromosome number = 32

Use

When wounding occurs on the tree a juice out, which was formerly used in the United States for chewing gum production - hence comes the common name "American Sweetgum ".

The wood of the Amber tree reminiscent of walnut wood and is characterized by a persistent spicy fragrance. It is estimated by cabinetmakers, the twigs of the tree are looking for divining.

Cultivated forms

Was cultured a variety of cultivars; these usually have different leaf shapes and colors. Here is a selection:

'Andrew Henson '
'Aurea ': This is probably just a sales name for the cultivar ' Variegata'.
'Aurora'
'Burgundy '
' Ellen '
'Festival '
'Frosty '
'Golden Sun'
'Golden Treasure'
' Goldmember '
' Gum Ball'
'Happy Daze '
' Jennifer Carol '
' Kia '
' Kirsten'
'Lane Roberts'
' Manon '

' Moonbeam '
' Moraine '
' Naree '
' Ocanee '
' Paarl '
' Palo Alto '
' Parasol '
'Pendula'
' Penwood '
' Rotundiloba '
'Silver King': with white-green variegated leaves
' Simone '
' Slender Silhouette '
' Stared '
' Thea '
'Variegata'
' Worplesdon '

Pictures

Stem and leaves in summer

Leaves in summer

Leaves with inflorescence

Inflorescence

Ripe fruit stand

Foliage in autumn cultivar

Bark

Domaine Solvay - La Hulpe (Belgium )

Swell

Frederick G. Meyer: Hamamelidaceae in the Flora of North America, Volume 3: Liquidambar styraciflua - Online. ( Description section )

Broad-leaved tree

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