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Northwest Missouri State University


American Sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua

Native. Leaves are simple, alternate, star shaped, and 4 to 7 inches wide. Height to 75 feet. The prickly dried fruit capsules can be messy. Twigs have corky wings. The genus name meaning liquid and amber re¬fers to the aromatic fluid secreted from the wood and leaves. This oil is used as a fixative in perfumes. Pioneers scraped gum from the inner bark to chew.

GIS coordinate: N40 21.189 W94 52.881

Trail Number: T27

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Bark - American Sweetgum

Leaf - American Sweetgum

Summer - American Sweetgum

Summer '08 - American Sweetgum

Summer '08 Fruit - American Sweetgum