Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

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

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.

Sources: Preston, R. J. (1989). North American Trees. Ames: Iowa State UP; Mohlenbrock, R. H. (1978). Forest Trees of Illinois. SIU: Ill. Dept. Natural Res.; Peattie, D. C. (1991). A Natural History of Trees of Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Frequent Mushroom Associates:

Sweetgum occurs in so many types of forests that a list of mushrooms that might be found in its vicinity would be meaningless. I am unaware of any mushroom that is specific to association with sweetgum--but southern collectors may be aware of such relationships.

Further Online Information:

Sweetgum USFS Fact Sheet (PDF file)
Sweetgum at Trees of Western NC

© MushroomExpert.Com

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