Sweet Gum Tree Bark Identification

In some trees especially in the northern part of the range the bark on the.

Sweet gum tree bark identification. Pockets of a white crystalline substance develop with the tissues. Infected trees show undernourished foliage the ends of branches may begin to die back. The star like leaf has 5 or 7. Sweetgum redgum star leaved gum alligator wood and gumtree habitat.

The deeply cut grey or brownish grey bark forms winged projections on the twigs. Wood rot affects many tree species and they include mushroom like fungi called shelf fungi which protrude from the sweet gum tree s bark. This tree may also be found in mixed woodlands. This list includes sycamore yellow poplar and sweetgum trees.

Sweet gum a tree of the witch hazel family hamamelidaceae native of the eastern united states also mexico and central america. Experts speculate that raising the soil grade around the tree by drought or other environmental stress fosters. Trees are the backbone of any good landscape plan. In height and 4 ft.

American sweetgum liquidambar styraciflua also known as american storax hazel pine bilsted redgum satin walnut star leaved gum alligatorwood or simply sweetgum is a deciduous tree in the genus liquidambar native to warm temperate areas of eastern north america and tropical montane regions of mexico and central america sweet gum is one of the main valuable forest trees in the. Inside the tree the inner bark shows a dark reddish brown stain. Facts on the sweet gum tree. The leaves of a maple tree are very distinct but that shape does not belong to maple leaves alone a number of broadleaf trees have maple like leaves.

The tree looks as if a can of oil has been poured on the bark. Trees vary in height the shape of their canopies type of foliage fall color flowers or fruit as well as other. Sweetgum is a pioneer species often found after an area has been logged or clearcut and one of the most common tree species in the eastern united states. Native americans and pioneers also used the sap for a number of medicinal purposes.

The american sweetgum gets its scientific and common name from the gummy sap that is found directly under that bark and seeps out when the tree is wounded. The bark on the trunk is light gray in color with deep rounded ridges. This type of rot causes roots to die which can stunt the tree s growth and cause early fall colors of its leaves. In severe cases wood rot can cause a tree to fall over.

Be sure to check the trunk for any suspicious growths from time to time. Along the rivers of the south eastern united states sweet gums exceed 125 ft. Like the maple tree these species have leaves whose ribs or veins radiate out from a single stalk or petiole attachment in a palmate pattern that is the lobes resemble a set of. The american sweet gum tree was so named because of the amber colored resinous sweet sap that was scraped from the inside of the bark to produce a chewing gum like substance.

Sweet gum leaves are glossy and dark green in the summer.