The star-shaped leaves are somewhat like those of Maple but grows alternate on the twigs. The hanging, dry fruit, a ball covered with tiny horns, opens to release mall winged seeds which are eaten by birds. The bark is thick, gray and scaly. The soft, weak, brownish wood is used for furniture, cabinetwork and veneer.
Sweetgum, also called Liquidamber, is often planted as a shade tree because of its brilliant fall coloring in its foliage. It is a tall straight tree of low, moist places. Its short, gray, horizontal branches bear thick twigs with corky ridges.
