Changes

|species=styraciflua

|species=styraciflua

|common_name=American Sweetgum

|common_name=American Sweetgum

|habit=tree

|habit=tree

|Min ht metric=cm

|Min ht box=60

|Max ht metric=ft

|lifespan=perennial

|lifespan=perennial

|features=deciduous, fall color

|features=deciduous, fall color

|Temp Metric=°F

|Temp Metric=°F

|image=Sweetgum2.jpg

|image=Sweetgum2.jpg

|image_width=180

|image_width=180

[[Image:American Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua Fruit Context 2500px.jpg|left|thumb||Autumn foliage and fruit]]

[[Image:American Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua Fruit Context 2500px.jpg|left|thumb||Autumn foliage and fruit]]

It is a medium-sized to large tree, growing to 20-35 m (exceptionally 41 m) tall, with a trunk up to 2 m diameter. The [[leaf|leaves]] are palmately lobed, 7-19 cm (rarely to 25 cm) long and broad and with a 6-10 cm petiole, looking somewhat similar to those of some [[maple]]s. They have five sharply pointed lobes, but are easily distinguished from maples in being glossy and leathery in appearance, and arranged alternately, not in opposite pairs. They are a rich dark green and glossy, and in most cases turn brilliant orange, red, and purple colors in the autumn. A small percentage of trees are [[evergreen]] or semi-evergreen, with negligible fall color, especially in the extreme southern part of its range.  In the northern part of its range, as well as in colder areas that it has been planted in, the leaves are often killed by frost while still green.  The roots are fibrous; juices are balsamic.

It is a medium-sized to large tree, growing to 20-35 m (exceptionally 41 m) tall, with a trunk up to 2 m diameter. The [[leaf|leaves]] are palmately lobed, 7-19 cm (rarely to 25 cm) long and broad and with a 6-10 cm petiole, looking somewhat similar to those of some [[maple]]s. They have five sharply pointed lobes, but are easily distinguished from maples in being glossy and leathery in appearance, and arranged alternately, not in opposite pairs. They are a rich dark green and glossy, and in most cases turn brilliant orange, red, and purple colors in the autumn. A small percentage of trees are [[evergreen]] or semi-evergreen, with negligible fall color, especially in the extreme southern part of its range.  In the northern part of its range, as well as in colder areas that it has been planted in, the leaves are often killed by frost while still green.  The roots are fibrous; juices are balsamic.

The starry five-pointed leaves of the Liquidambar suggest the [[Sugar Maple]], and its fruit balls as they hang upon their long stems resemble those of the [[American sycamore|Buttonwood]].  The distinguishing mark of the tree, however, is the peculiar appearance of its small branches and twigs.  The bark attaches itself to these in plates edgewise instead of laterally, and a piece of the leafless branch with the aid of a little imagination readily takes on a reptilian form; indeed, the tree is sometimes called ''Alligator-wood''.

The starry five-pointed leaves of the Liquidambar suggest the [[Sugar Maple]], and its fruit balls as they hang upon their long stems resemble those of the [[American sycamore|Buttonwood]].  The distinguishing mark of the tree, however, is the peculiar appearance of its small branches and twigs.  The bark attaches itself to these in plates edgewise instead of laterally, and a piece of the leafless branch with the aid of a little imagination readily takes on a reptilian form; indeed, the tree is sometimes called ''Alligator-wood''.

The male and female [[inflorescences]] are on different branches of the same tree. The [[fruit]], popularly nick-named a "space bug", "monkey ball", "bommyknocker", "bir ball", "gumball" "cukoo-bir" or "sticky ball", is a hard, dry, globose, compound fruit 2.5-4 cm in diameter and composed of numerous (40-60) [[capsule (fruit)|capsules]]. Each capsule has a pair of terminal spikes (for a total of 80-120 spikes), and each capsule contains one to two small [[seed]]s. When the fruit opens and the seeds are released, each capsule is associated with a small hole (40-60 of these) in the compound fruit.

The male and female [[inflorescences]] are on different branches of the same tree. The [[fruit]], popularly nick-named a "space bug", "monkey ball", "bommyknocker", "bir ball", "gumball" "cukoo-bir" or "sticky ball", is a hard, dry, globose, compound fruit 2.5-4 cm in diameter and composed of numerous (40-60) [[capsule (fruit)|capsules]]. Each capsule has a pair of terminal spikes (for a total of 80-120 spikes), and each capsule contains one to two small [[seed]]s. When the fruit opens and the seeds are released, each capsule is associated with a small hole (40-60 of these) in the compound fruit.

The autumnal coloring is not simply a flame, it is a conflagration; in reds and yellows it equals the maples, and in addition it has the dark purples and smoky browns of the ash.<ref name=Keeler />

The autumnal coloring is not simply a flame, it is a conflagration; in reds and yellows it equals the maples, and in addition it has the dark purples and smoky browns of the ash.<ref name=Keeler />

* 'Grazam' – pyramidal, with glossy leaves. Orange, red and purple fall colors.

* 'Grazam' – pyramidal, with glossy leaves. Orange, red and purple fall colors.

* 'Gumball' – dwarf shrubby cultivar seldom more than 2 meters tall. Purple-red fall color.

* 'Gumball' – dwarf shrubby cultivar seldom more than 2 meters tall. Purple-red fall color.

* 'Moraine' – upright, rounded form, fast growth, red fall color, hardy to &minus;30 °C.

* 'Moraine' – upright, rounded form, fast growth, red fall color, hardy to −30 °C.

* 'Palo Alto' – various shades of red in fall; best in California.

* 'Palo Alto' – various shades of red in fall; best in California.

* 'Parasol' – develops rounded crown; mature height 10 meters; deep red fall color.

* 'Parasol' – develops rounded crown; mature height 10 meters; deep red fall color.