Altingiaceae
Liquidambar styraciflua
Also called Liquid Ambar, Redgum, and Sapgum
Specimen Size: 49.6ft tall, 9.75in in diameter.
Location: On the side of the traffic circle in front of Parrington Hall.
Historical Background: The first historical reference of this tree comes from Don Bernal Diaz del Castillo, a Spanish conquistador who witnessed ceremonies between Cortez and Montezuma in the 1500s. The liquid amber extracted from the tree was consumed and diffused for fragrance. Today, its wood is used for furniture and interior furnishings.
Non-Native
Native Range: Southeastern United States
Identifying Features: This tree is another common sight in Seattle, with wondrously green leaves turning into some of the most brilliant fall foliage anywhere, each tree having the whole spectrum of colors from yellow to almost purple red. It is a large tree with a straight trunk and conical crown that becomes rounded and spreading in older age, when it can reach an impressive height of 60-100’ (18-30m). Bark is grey and furrowed, smoother when young. This species has maple-like star shaped leaves on long stems. It also has very distinctive seed pods, 1 ¼” (2.5-3cm) in diameter and round with long spines that can be rough on bare feet. They hang down on long stalks green and plump before browning, drying, and dropping to the ground in droves. Tiny grainy seeds are released from holes in these pods.
Identifying Features In Depth:
Form: A large and tall tree, with a straight trunk and aromatic disposition. The crown is conical when young and becomes round and spreading, rising to heights of 60-100’ (18-30m). They can also achieve a fairly good sized diameter of 1 ½-3’ (0.5-0.9m), but are generally quite slender for their heights.
Leaves: Leaves of this tree are maple-like, 3-6” (7.5-15cm) long and wide. They have 5-7 long pointed and toothed lobes, with a palmate venation pattern of growth. When crushed they release a distinct resinous odor. They are shiny green on top and, lighter beneath, and in autumn turn an immense range of colors, even on the same tree and same leaf from yellow to darkest red.
Bark: Gray and smooth at youth, furrowing into narrow scaly ridges and becoming darker as they age.
Reproductive Bodies: The flowers of this tree are tiny and greenish ball-like clusters. Males are in several clusters along a stalk while females are drooping in a ball on the same tree. Fruit is a brown ball arising from these green flower clusters, 1-1 ¼” (2.5-3cm) in diameter on a long stalk. It is actually a cluster of many many individual fruits, all ending in 2 long prickly curved points with 1-2 long winged seeds. When green in spring the balls can amass in such numbers that they break branches off the tree with their weight, and in fall they litter the ground in equally prodigious numbers.
Native range of Liquidamber styraciflua in North America, compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Below is the description found for this species on the original Brockman Memorial Tree Tour:
Historic Tree Tour Information: Sweetgum trees stand between the Art building and MacKenzie Hall. They are vigorous shade trees from the southeastern United States with star-shaped leaves that smell sweetly resinous if scratched. From the leaf shape you might think it a maple, except that no maple can match the sweet odor. Moreover, maple leaves and twigs are opposite one another, whereas sweetgum leaves are alternate like those of most trees. Several features make sweetgum one of the most popular urban ornamental trees. It is strong, adaptable to varied soil conditions, and produces a safe, handsome crown of branches. The fall leaf color can be spectacular red usually changing from green later in the season than most trees. Practically no insects or diseases bother this species. A drawback is its prickly seedballs littering the ground, crunching underfoot.
Sweet gum resin can be used as a stabilizer in cakes and other foods and can be chewed to sweeten the breath. It also has medicinal, incense, perfume, soap, and adhesive uses. The wood is fine-grained with red heartwood that displays traverse blackish belts when cut. It is used for lumber, veneer, plywood, and railroad ties. The lumber is used to produce boxes and crates, furniture, and radio, television, and phonograph cabinets.