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Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

[ Trees > Hardwoods . . . ]      Forest Type: Multiple

Range

Distinctive leaves are star-shaped, 5-pointed, finely toothed; fruit a distinctive spiny ball; ranging from eastern Texas to Pennsylvania.

by Michael Kuo

Habitat: Often on moist soil in bottomlands; occurring in a wide variety of forest types; ranging from eastern Texas to Pennsylvania.

Stature: 80-120 feet high; to 4 feet in diameter; with a fairly narrow crown and an elegant main trunk.

Leaves: 4-7 inches long; star-shaped, with 5-7 pointed lobes; shiny and pale green above; paler below.

Bark: Thick; grayish brown; furrowed or scaly in age.

Fruit: A distinctive ball; to 1 1/2 inches long; round; spiny.


Frequent Mushroom Associates: Sweetgum is apparently not mycorrhizal. Among saprobes, Xylaria liquidambar, as its scientific name suggests, decomposes the decaying fruits of sweetgum trees.


(References consulted)

 		 

Liquidambar styraciflua

Liquidambar styraciflua

Liquidambar styraciflua

Liquidambar styraciflua



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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2005, August). Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/trees/liquidambar_styraciflua.html