Sweet Gum Tree Bark Identification
In scientific nomenclature the sweet gum tree is called liquidambar styraciflua this name was derived from the tree s innate property of secreting a resin like substance.
Sweet gum tree bark identification. The deeply cut grey or brownish grey bark forms winged projections on the twigs. Along the rivers of the south eastern united states sweet gums exceed 125 ft. The tree is an active member of the flowering plant. In height and 4 ft.
The bark becomes deeply ridged at about 25 years old. 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 central america sweet gum is one of the main valuable forest trees in the. It hails from the altingiaceae family tree belonging to the saxifragales order. Identification sweet gum leaves are glossy and dark green in the summer.
Round globose 1 1 5 inches 25 38 mm in diameter. Sweetgum makes a nice conical park campus or residential shade tree for large properties when it is young developing a more oval or rounded canopy as it grows older as several branches become dominant and grow in diameter. The liquidambar styraciflua growth rate is moderate to rapid.