American sweet gum
Liquidambar styraciflua

Family: Altingiaceae

What it is like

A deciduous tree. It grows 40 m high. It is broadly cone shaped. The bark is dark grey-brown and develops deep cracks. The leaves are alternate. The leaves are divided into 5 lobes like the fingers on a hand. The leaves are 15 cm long. The lobes taper to a point and have fine teeth along the edges. They are glossy green above and turn red or purple in the autumn. They are on shoots which are corky and winged. The male and female flowers are in separate rounded heads on the same plant. These are yellow-green. The fruit are small and brown in rounded clusters. These hang down. They are 4 cm across.

It is used in medicine. Also put in the family Hamamelidaceae.

Where it is found

It grows in temperate and tropical places. It is native to central America, Mexico and the eastern United States. It grows in moist woods. It is hardy. It suits hardiness zones 5-11. Arboretum Tasmania. Burnie Rhodo gardens. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Belize, Canada, Central America, China, East Africa, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Mexico, North America, Nicaragua, Slovenia, Tasmania, USA, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The resin has been used to flavour drinks. The gum was chewed for chewing gum.

Edible parts

Resin - flavouring

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Bilsted, Navadni ambrovec, Sapgum, Sweet gum

Synonyms

Liquidamber barbata Stokes;