Taxonomy
| Clade | angiosperm |
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| Family | Hamamelidaceae |
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| Genus | Liquidambar |
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| Species | styraciflua |
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| Common Name | American sweetgum, sweetgum |
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| iTree Code | LIST2 |
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Plant Form
| Form | Tree: large, pyramidal crown |
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| Height | 100 feet |
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| Spread | 60 feet |
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| Deciduous | Yes |
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Identification Description
| Foliage | green, star-shaped with 5-7 pointed lobes |
Leaf Type
 |
Simple |
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| Bark | gray/brown, smooth developing deep furrows with rounded ridges |
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| Bud | green to red/purple, plump coming to a point with overlapping scales (imbricate) |
Bud Arrangement
|
Alternate |
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| Twig | moderately stout, red to yellow/brown, often with corky-wings, aromatic |
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| Flower | female: rounded, 2-beaked; male: upright, panicle; male and female on same tree (monoecious) |
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| Fruit | globe-shaped, composite of capsules, opening (dehiscent) into beak-like structure; hanging on 2-3" stem |
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| Fall Color | red, purple, yellow |
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Site Characteristics
| USDA Zones
|
pH Levels | Salt Tolerance |
| Min | 5a |
Min | 4.5 |
Soil | Intolerant |
| Max | 9b |
Max | 7.0 |
Spray | Intolerant |
| Shade Tolerance | Drought Tolerance | Allelopathy |
| Intolerant |
Low |
No |
Species Status
| Nebraska Native |
|
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| U.S. Native |
|
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| Region of Origin | United States, Mexico |
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| More Information | Visit External Site |
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