Liquidambar styraciflua (American Sweetgum)

Liquidambar styraciflua (American Sweetgum)

American sweetgum 

Pronunciation: 
lick-wid-AM-bur stye-ruh-SIFF-loo-uh
Family: Altingiaceae
Plant type: Deciduous Tree
Origin: Central America, Mexico
Zone: 5
……..
Mature size
  Height: 15-22 m
  Spread: 10-15 m
Habit: open stiffly upright
Form: oval vertical, pyramidal - widely  
Texture: medium 
Exposure - full sun
Preferred soil - acidic 
Landscape uses - fall interest, specimen plant 
……..
Leaves
Arrangement: alternately lobed simple
Shape: orbicular 
Size: 5 inches
Margin: serrate
Characteristics: 5 lobed leaf, beautiful fall colour 
Colour: green 
………
Flowers
Inflorescence type: raceme 
Colour: not showy, yellow
Size: 2cm x 6 cm
Time: march april may
………
Fruit type: capsule, multiple fruit
Colour: grey brown
Time: september october
………
Stem
Description: single stem smooth, corky, deeply fissured 
Colour: grey
……..
Propagation - seed, greenwood and softwood cuttings, layering
Comments - sap is used in medicinal trade, can be used in teas made from bark and roots, good for healing wounds

Pests - anthracnose, fall web worm 

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