Tree Description:
A large forest tree to 100 feet tall or more and a straight trunk to 3 feet or more in diameter, with a conical shape when young and an upright, broad crown on older trees.
Range/Site Description:
Occurs in East Texas on rich riverbottom soils, in swamps subject to frequent flooding, and dry uplands, as far west as the San Jacinto river basin.
Leaf:
Simple, alternate, star-shaped, 4" to 7" long and wide, with 5 to 7 pointed lobes and a finely-toothed leaf margin. Leaves are aromatic when crushed and turn brilliant colors of yellow, orange, red, and purple in the fall.
Flower:
Male and female flowers are borne separately on the same tree, opening with the leaves; male flowers are small, greenish, inconspicuous; the female flowers are small round heads on a long stalk.
Fruit:
A composite fruit shaped like a spiked ball, 1" to 1.5" in diameter, on a long stalk, made up of many capsules enclosing the seeds. Fruits hangs on the twigs late into winter.
Bark:
Twigs are reddish-brown and sometimes have corky wings; bark is light gray, turning rough with rounded, corky ridges that develop into broader plates and deep furrows on older trunks.
Wood:
Moderately hard, close-grained, and not durable on exposure; wood is extensively used for flooring, railroad ties, paper pulp, and veneers for baskets of all kinds; also available as a landscape specimen.
Similar Species:
Maple species (Acer spp.) all have smaller leaves and winged fruits; American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) has larger leaves with shallow lobes and unique peeling bark.
Interesting Facts:
In rural areas, children made bubble gum by combining sweetgum sap with other local fruits.
