Liquidambar styraciflua
• Tall tree 50 - 120 feet
• Five lobes per leaf
• Leaves hairless, star-shaped, toothed
• Leaves alternate on the twig
• Leaves pleasantly fragrant when crushed
• Mature bark grayish, regularly grooved
• Leaves 13 - 20 cm (5 - 8 inches)
• Flowers in spherical heads
• Fruits in brown, dry, somewhat prickly, long-stemmed, hanging balls
• Sap exuded from tree wounds form hardened clumps of gum
• Chewed by some people
• Loves the floodplain
• Fast-growing
• Brilliant fall color
• Sweetgum veneer takes a high polish and is widely used for furniture
