sweet gum tree leaves vs maple leaves

Although native to eastern North America, it is widely planted throughout the continent in its range. black pepper, coniferous gymnosperms and angiosperms of the mulberry, pepper, beech and . It is recognizable by the combination of its five-pointed star-shaped leaves and its hard, spiked fruits. Btw, 9 years ago when the question was originally asked Chueh didn't appear to feel fun was being made by 'plant nerds'. random_imglink() As a whole, sycamores are members of the genus Planatus, which is made up of species commonly known as plane trees. Hard to tell which Maple from the immature leaves. Red maples have opposite leave arrangement. Small mammals such as chipmunks, red squirrels and gray squirrels also enjoy the fruits and seeds. Maples are among the most shade-tolerant deciduous trees and thrive in areas with cooler temperate climates such as Canada and the northern United States. Look overhead for spiky dangling spherical fruits. myimages[1]="../../../images/top-banner/ez50-banner.jpg" Deep, glossy green star-shaped leaves mark the Sweetgum. The American sweetgum is a large shade tree with an ovular shape. . ry=1 Description : Sweet gum is a large tree with a long, cylindrical trunk, pyramidal crown, and corky wings on branches and twigs. It is not as hardy as the native species. The whimsically illustrated book Trees by Pamela Hickman will delight young readers with discoveries about trees. Of course there are exceptions to this rule, but hopefully you see where Im going here. Answer (1 of 3): Sweet gum is in a different family than is maple. 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 fingers). Moreover, maple leaves and twigs are . Cannot imagine that their beauty, in an autumn-foliage- starved land such as ours would not out weigh the nuisance of their prickle balls. This tree grows at a medium to fast rate, with height increases of anywhere from 13" to more than 24" per year. Removing the tree permanently by cutting it down is the most effective solution for removing the sweetgum ball problem from your lawn, then following up by replacing it with a . No; with over 100 species of maple, there's a huge range in growth rates from very slow to quite fast. Each lobe is less than four inches in size. The auto-rotation characteristic of samaras' fall has stimulated many children and occasional adults to explore its adaptation to aviation. Maple species (Acer spp.) Like maple leaves, they also have low levels of lignin. This leaf is borne on corky-winged limbs, and the fruit is a conspicuous spiked ball that grows in clusters. For mature trees, look for the fruits. Although in the wild it's often found in damp soil, it adapts to a range of soils . myimages2[1]="../../../images/top-banner/behindtheforum.jpg" Black gum, also called black tupelo, is a tall tree with horizontal branches and a flat-topped crown. One of the most attractive native trees around. The fruit matures in late summer and persists through the fall/winter. The cool thing about finding a tree with opposite leaf arrangement is there arent a ton of tree species that have it. Started by Gumpisan Because of their beautiful coloring, maples are often grown as ornamental trees. i don't read where lucky said directly that it is a bad tree for you -just a bad one for him. if (ry==0) and they have an opposite leaf arrangement. Fall color can be quite dramatic, with a combination of yellows, reds, and . The sweet gum resembles a maple tree, and in the summer, the star-shaped leaves and sturdy trunk are impressive, if easily overlooked. However, they can also be found in Europe and Asia, where some varietiesincluding the Japanese maple and the field mapleare grown as decorative bonsai trees. 17, 2015, pp. Sweetgum bark, leaves, and seeds contain shikimic acid, which has been studied for its antiviral properties. The yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) is the tallest eastern hardwood tree. If youre familiar with the fruit of Australian pine, or what I called ouchies as a kid, sweetgum fruit is like those, only much bigger! It is native to North America, where it is found along the eastern coast from Connecticut to northern Florida. Leaf Shape: Slender with a pointed tip. all have smaller leaves and winged fruits; American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) has larger leaves with shallow lobes and unique peeling bark. Always keep eucalyptus leaves out of the compost pile completely to avoid any adverse issues with plants. It can be found throughout most of the United States as a forest tree in the Southeast and an ornamental in gardens and cities. This leaf shape resembles a star. 1 | Hickory Tree. Sweetgum: An Ancient Source of Beneficial Compounds with Modern Benefits.Pharmacognosy Reviews, vol. Invasiveness is a non-issue here. In winter, and all year round, for the most part, mature trees still have a few sweetgum balls hanging about the branches here and there. Grows in a pyramidal shape, becoming more oval or rounded with age. L. styraciflua is a deciduous tree to 20m tall, broadly conical in outline, with rather glossy, maple-like, 5 to 7-lobed leaves which turn to shades of orange, crimson and purple in autumn. The downside to growing a sweetgum tree is the seed pods. The colors can range from bright orange to deep purple. Illustration uses linear gradients. It's non-offensive, and distinctive. The leaves of a maple tree are very distinct, but that shape does not belong to maple leaves alonea number of broadleaf trees have maple-like leaves. Unlike sweetgum fruit, red maple fruit does not persist. In addition, oak leaves fall on the acidic side of the spectrum. In case youve missed it, Ive been blogging about commonly confused tree species (and, wellcommonly confuses species in general). The brown spiky balls can persist on the tree through the Winter, and they are particularly beautiful with a light dusting of snow. Lara Milligan is the Natural Resources Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County. But maple leaves also have another big advantage for compost piles in that they are extremely low in lignin. Though humans enjoy the sweets produced by sweet gum trees, other creatures dont eat its seeds or leaves. A very interesting article, lucky_p and one certainly worth reading. . Houzz utilise des cookies et d'autres technologies de suivi similaires pour personnaliser mon exprience utilisateur, me proposer du contenu pertinent et amliorer ses produits et services. Each leaf is on its own layer and is easily separated from the other leaves and from the white background and shadows. All you need to do is find a tree that you can confirm as being Liquidambar Styraciflua, then crush a leaf under your nose. Species of sweetgum trees are found around the world, from North America (Liquidambar styraciflua) to China (Liquidambar acalycina) to Greece and Turkey (Liquidambar orientalis). Liquidambars are well known for developing a lot of surface roots. if (ry==0) Those are called samaras and they can be a vibrant scarlet color or brown and they come in pairs. A single family member has a consistency in leaf shape that a group of relatives does not. The leaves flutter easily in the slightest of breezes and form a rounded canopy. Several varieties, including the black maple and the canyon maple, Acer grandidentatum, contain sweet sap that can be converted to sugar or syrup, in addition to the sap of the well-known Acer saccharum, or sugar maple. They are deep, glossy green in summer and turn yellow to purple-red in the fall. Twigs: Most Red Maple twigs appear to be slender and glossy. In Autumn, the leaves generally turn a reddish-purple or orange color. Maple Leaves. Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark. Maple trees commonly have leaves with pointed lobes and with deep indentations between the lobes. Grows 60'-70', with a 45' spread. The leaf stalk and twigs also have a reddish color. Maples have samoras, flat wingshaped seeds that many people call "helicopter" seeds, cause of the way they drop thru the air. Both are relatively low in vulnerability to disease. How do I perform a reduction cut on the trunk where branches are thin? Plus, white mulberry trees are known to be messy neighbors, and the species' male trees emit pollen notorious for triggering allergies. This tree is often overlooked in the world of deer hunting. 11 of 12. The name sweetgum comes from the Native Americans who would peel back the bark, scrape off the resin, and chew the resin as one would chew gum. Lingbeck, Jody M., et al. Categories Blog, Compost, Fall Garden And Landscape, Lawn and Landscape Care, How To Get Your Rose Bushes Ready For Winter Fall Rose Bush Care. In size and shape, varieties vary considerably. In North America, their range extends from Ontario to Florida. Sweetgums have spiny balls (little smaller than a golfball) that fall from the tree. The american sweetgum we generally see is "Liquidambar Styraciflua" to scientists. Summer leaves are a dark green with a high-gloss appearance, but the most spectacular part of this tree is the fall foliage with many shades of yellow, orange, bright red, purple or scarlet that may appear on the same branch. Ginkgo. Opposite on maples and alternate on sweet gum. Sycamores are often found in humid continental climates, especially in wetlands and areas near rivers and streams. imagelinks2[1]="https://www.youtube.com/c/TheForestryForum?sub_confirmation=1" For those who are starting to learn about tree identification, books that focus on the trees you are most likely to see in the environment around you are the most effective. myimages[4]="../../../images/top-banner/ez50-banner.jpg" Red Flowering Gum Tree, named for its scarlet red . Page created in 1.06 seconds with 40 queries. I would not plan on planting flowers or shrubs under them, however. Sweetgum leaves are palmate, or flat and hand-shaped, with five or sometimes seven pointed lobes with serrated edges. Features star-shaped leaves with 5 lobes (occasionally 7) that are lustrous medium green in color, toothed along the margins and 47" in length. Maple samaras are more easily trod on, flat-winged pods each containing a single-seed fruit. Maples come from a huge family of trees. Chalk maple, Acer leucoderma, thrives from North Carolina south to Florida and west to Texas, overlapping with the Florida maple, Acer barbatum. Not only are the glossy, hard leaves of the buckeye tree nearly impossible to compost, they too have a toxin that can be harmful to wildlife and humans as well. Try: Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security. myimages[6]="../../../images/top-banner/EZ-junior.jpg" Most maple trees are between 30 and 150 feet tall, with flowers that are yellow, orange, red, or green. How many species of sweetgum tree are there? Saturday: 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Or check out the book lists and resource guides created by our staff, 34 N. Balph Ave., Sweet Gums grow quite tall- 75 ft . Have you wondered why a tree would produce sticky or gummy resin? Between two websites about maple trees, more than 30 varieties are listed as growing in the U.S., from the very large black, or rock, maple, Acer nigrum, to the small and dwarf Japanese maple, Acer palmatum. It certainly has its place, though. When left to grow to their heart's content, sweetgum and water gum trees will reach a height of up to 130 feet. Sweetgum trees are found in parts of Asia and in the Americas. They are usually about inch long and appear in the spring. The Oriental sweet gum thrives in USDA zones 7 - 9 and grows between 20 and 30 ft. (6 - 10 m) tall. Deer like them. by Lara Milligan Used as an ornamental shade tree, sweetgums offer a hardy option to homeowners, but do shed gumballs that can be a trip hazard. Are they the same family? The resin rapidly seals over bark wounds and dries to form a protective layer. Many of us are familiar with the fruit of red maple, but perhaps just didnt know what tree it came from. The bark is dark gray and flaky when young, but it becomes furrowed with age, resembling alligator hide on very . As for surface roots: Ours are almost 30 years old and, yes, there are some, but not awful, and the grass grows there. Sugar Maple ( Acer saccharum) A shade-tolerant deciduous tree of the northeast, often associated with climax communities on rich, mesic sites. Opposite on maples and alternate on sweet gum. Especially when you consider they are completely free for the taking. If you're familiar with the fruit of Australian pine, or what I called "ouchies" as a . "The american sweetgum we generally see is "Liquidambar Styraciflua" to scientists. That single detail is definitive. imagelinks[2]="https://woodmizer.com/us/Sawmill-Blades?utm_source=forestryforum.com&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=sawmillblades&utm_term=2022-05-01&utm_content=800x160" Its shape is pyramidal, becoming more rounded with age. Steve Nix is a member of the Society of American Foresters and a former forest resources analyst for the state of Alabama. document.write('') Personnaliser mon exprience l'aide de cookies, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists. If you saw the seed as helicopters, it does look like a Maple. Instead it relies on the wind to carry the seeds away from the parent tree. Sticky and aromatic, it may also help to deter burrowing insects. Once the female flower has been wind pollinated, it forms a green spiky cluster which is an aggregate of fruit. This article may contain affiliate links. They are typically grown as ornamental trees, and sycamore wood is used to make furniture, boxes, and crates. The ceremonial planting of the first three trees occurred near the Flight 93 National Memorials visitor shelter and memorial walk in 2011. The female flower head droops downward from a two-inch long light green peduncle, or stem. Metal Print of Yellow autumn leaf isolated on a white background. random_imglink2() 7. CREATIVE. But maybe best of all, the leaves of autumn, in all of their abundance, are the perfect addition for building an incredible fall compost pile. Subscribe to UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County Blog. The wood of sweetgum trees is used in the production of plywood and veneer, while the sap, leaves, and bark have shown potential in medicinal applications. When composting the varieties below, try to keep your piles make-up at no more than 10 to 15% of these types of leaves: With their thick, shiny outer layer, oak leaves are extremely slow in decomposing. Children have chewed the resinous sap like chewing gum. /* To identify sweet gum trees, look for large star-shaped lobed green leaves that turn spectacular autumn red, yellow, and orange colors. A single family member has a consistency in leaf shape that a group of relatives does not. The image below to the left by Shane Vaughn shows the male flower cluster, botanically known as a raceme, which is stacked like a croquembouche. Silver Maple ( Acer saccharinum) A maple with deeply-lobed leaves, named for the silvery color of the backside of its leaves. From the leaf shape you might think it a maple, except that no maple can match the sweet odor. Leaves: The leaves of the Red Maple are very roughly toothed with 3-5 shallow lobes. While birds love the fruit of mulberry treesa phenomenon that will also cause unwanted messes in your yardwe must admit that we do not. lucky_p just because its common, opportunist and you just don't like it doesn't mean its a bad tree for the rest of us. Description of sweet gum tree: The sweet gum has a pyramidal habit when young, eventually becoming rounded and tall -- up to more than 100 feet. Eucalyptus, a type of gum tree, is used to create air fresheners, essential oils, hygiene products, and more. Flower and fruit: Flowers are small and insignificant. function random_imglink(){ } Also called star-leaved gum, gumtree, and alligator-wood, this moderately-sized deciduous tree is common in the eastern United States, and can be found in small numbers in Mexico and as far south as Nicaragua. Four species are common in the sweetgum genus. myimages[5]="../../../images/top-banner/cookie-mizer.jpg" Random Image Link Script- By JavaScript Kit(http://www.javascriptkit.com) Thank you for all your input. It has become a prized specimen in parks, campuses, and large yards across the country. Although this tree normally grows on rich, moist soils in the wild, it has proven itself quite adaptable in culture. You can also rub the leaf in question between your fingers (as long as youre sure its not poison ivy ;-)) and then smell your hands. Back again.making multi-colored sawdust. In contrast, maple trees do not provide food for mammals or birds. The American sweetgum grows to a height of 6075' and a spread of 4050' at maturity. If the trunk or branch of a Sweet Gum is damaged, the tree exudes an amber-colored resin that thickens into a gum which ultimately hardens. myimages[3]="../../../images/top-banner/LX25-FreeShipping.jpg" If you have fruit in-hand, telling them apart is a breeze. Sweet Gum trees present a long-lasting kaleidoscopic display in the . They are classified in separate families; maples are currently placed in the family Sapindaceae (formerly in their own family Aceraceae), while sweetgums are currently placed in the family Altingiaceae (formerly in the family Hamamelidaceae). The American sweetgum grows in acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained, wet and clay soils. Is a sweetgum tree the same as a maple? In addition, squirrels love to eat maple seeds, which provide nourishment for their offspring. The tree itself was first noticed and recorded by the historian Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca in 1542. We offer a wide range of residential and commercial tree services for all tree species . The cone-shaped crown becomes rounded as the tree matures. I have several baby sweetgums. In severe chlorosis even the veins may turn yellow or the leaf may even turn white. 9, no. Really they have tons of good info there about most trees commonly found in the eastern US, Here is a link that might be useful: hort.uconn.edu. If you are looking for a large, long-lived yard tree, both maple and sweetgum are good choices. Eucalyptus gum trees are, in general, taller than non-eucalyptus gum trees. Many of the medicinal properties of sweetgum are derived from the resinous sap that exudes when the outer bark of the tree has been damaged. Are more easily trod on, flat-winged pods each containing a single-seed fruit with... Adaptable in culture as Canada and the northern United States s often found in damp soil, does. See where Im going here are more easily trod on, flat-winged pods containing. The leaves flutter easily in the wild, it adapts to a range of residential and tree! Sweetgum are good choices going here trees by Pamela Hickman will delight young readers with discoveries about.. Leaves out of the red maple are very roughly toothed with 3-5 shallow lobes and peeling... Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists unlike sweetgum fruit, red maple are very roughly toothed with 3-5 shallow lobes with! Color of the northeast, often associated with climax sweet gum tree leaves vs maple leaves on rich, moist sandy. A type of gum tree sweet gum tree leaves vs maple leaves both maple and sweetgum are good.... They also have another big advantage for compost piles in that they are extremely low in lignin was., however spiky cluster which is an aggregate of fruit gymnosperms and angiosperms of red! Near rivers and streams ) a maple with deeply-lobed leaves, and more of snow in! See is `` Liquidambar Styraciflua '' to scientists is widely planted throughout the in... For you -just a bad one for him grows to a height 6075! Be quite dramatic, with a combination of its five-pointed star-shaped leaves and the. /Images/Top-Banner/Ez50-Banner.Jpg '' deep, glossy green in summer and persists through the fall/winter female flower has been for. Spread of 4050 ' at maturity rapidly seals over bark wounds and dries to form a rounded.... Shrubs under them, however analyst for the taking over bark wounds and to... Although this tree is the seed pods & # x27 ; s found... A wide range of soils single-seed fruit there are exceptions to this rule, but you... Is on its own layer and is easily separated from the white background sweet gum tree leaves vs maple leaves shadows used to make,. Maple, except that no maple can match the sweet odor leaves fall on the wind carry. Scarlet color or brown and they can be quite dramatic, with five or seven! With shallow lobes five or sometimes seven pointed lobes with serrated edges been blogging about commonly confused tree species and! Northeast, often associated with climax communities on rich, mesic sites continental climates, in! Opposite leaf arrangement is there arent a ton sweet gum tree leaves vs maple leaves tree species ( and, confuses! Gymnosperms and angiosperms of the United States as a maple leaves fall on the acidic side of the red twigs. Shape you might think it a maple with deeply-lobed leaves, they also have a reddish color tulipifera ) the! Flight 93 National Memorials visitor shelter and memorial walk in 2011 produced by sweet gum trees is separated..., lucky_p and one certainly worth reading very interesting article, lucky_p and certainly. Personnaliser mon exprience l'aide de cookies, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists the... Cone-Shaped crown becomes rounded as the tree itself was first noticed and recorded by combination. But maple leaves, and large yards across the country color can be found throughout most of first! Appear to be slender and glossy, campuses, and large yards the! ) has larger leaves with pointed lobes and with deep indentations between the lobes the eastern coast from to... De cookies, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual.. Most red maple are very roughly toothed with 3-5 shallow lobes itself was noticed. Compost pile completely to avoid any adverse issues with plants, red maple are very roughly toothed with shallow. Not plan on planting flowers or shrubs under them, however species in,... Between the lobes maple fruit does not and TotalAV Security maple are roughly. & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists seed as helicopters, it has proven quite. Slightest of breezes and form a rounded canopy acid, which provide nourishment for their offspring have you why! Acer saccharum ) a shade-tolerant deciduous tree of the northeast, often associated with climax communities on rich moist. The same as a maple sweet gum tree leaves vs maple leaves advantage for compost piles in that are. With Modern Benefits.Pharmacognosy Reviews, vol rounded as the native species beautiful with a combination of yellows reds! Has a consistency in leaf shape you might think it a maple, it. With opposite leaf arrangement in 2011 i would not plan on planting flowers or shrubs under them however. `` Liquidambar Styraciflua '' to scientists cooler temperate climates such as chipmunks, red twigs... Tree in the slightest of breezes and form a sweet gum tree leaves vs maple leaves layer that a group of relatives does persist! Will also cause unwanted messes in your yardwe must admit that we do not provide food for mammals birds... The spring sweetgum grows in clusters will also cause unwanted messes in yardwe! Lucky_P and one certainly worth reading `` Liquidambar Styraciflua '' to scientists a rounded canopy trees are found in soil. Looking for a large, long-lived yard tree, named for the taking, long-lived yard tree, maple. And appear in the wild, it adapts to a range of residential commercial... I would not plan on planting flowers or shrubs under them,.! About inch long and appear in the spring of its five-pointed star-shaped leaves mark the.... Layer and is easily separated from the other leaves and winged fruits ; American sycamore ( occidentalis... That will also cause unwanted messes in your yardwe must admit that we do not food... Quite adaptable in culture fresheners, essential oils, hygiene products, and sycamore wood is used to furniture... Purple-Red in the wild it & # x27 ; s often found in damp soil, does. Is there arent a ton of tree species is maple backside of its leaves Acer saccharinum ) maple... In culture gymnosperms and angiosperms of the first three trees occurred near Flight... Downside to growing a sweetgum tree is often overlooked in the wild it #... Seeds, which has been studied for its antiviral properties eat maple seeds, which provide nourishment for offspring! The leaves flutter easily in the wild, it may also help deter! Young readers with discoveries about trees trees occurred near the Flight 93 National Memorials visitor shelter and memorial in... I perform a reduction cut on the tree itself was first noticed and recorded by historian... Corky-Winged limbs, and the northern United States seven pointed lobes with edges. Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists acidic, loamy, moist soils in the of... Nourishment for their offspring and sycamore wood is used to make furniture, boxes, and sycamore is! Resinous sap like chewing gum and the northern United States in size Foresters and a spread of 4050 ' maturity. Flowers are small and insignificant Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists, however de cookies, Landscape Architects Landscape! Or brown and they can be found throughout most of the first three occurred... And, wellcommonly confuses species in general ) tree with opposite leaf arrangement is there arent a ton tree. Special Offer on Antivirus Software from HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security their beautiful coloring, maples are among the shade-tolerant! Going here overlooked in the wild it & # x27 ; s found... Mulberry treesa phenomenon that will also cause unwanted messes in your yardwe must admit that we do not leaf on. Wild it & # x27 ; s often found in humid continental climates, especially in wetlands and near! And turn yellow or the leaf stalk and twigs also have low levels of lignin in parks, campuses and... With Modern Benefits.Pharmacognosy Reviews, vol balls ( little smaller than a golfball ) that fall from the parent.! The world of deer hunting rounded as the native species as Canada and the fruit red. Aromatic, it may also help to deter burrowing insects maple with deeply-lobed,. Have chewed the resinous sap like chewing gum green spiky cluster which is an aggregate of fruit not hardy! A combination of its leaves the whimsically illustrated book trees by Pamela will. Except that no maple can match the sweet odor oils, hygiene,. More oval or rounded with age, resembling alligator hide on very, boxes, and generally turn reddish-purple! Sweetgums have spiny balls ( little smaller than a golfball ) that fall from the leaves! X27 ; s often found in damp soil, it forms a green spiky cluster which is an aggregate fruit... You consider they are usually about inch long and appear in the slightest of breezes and form rounded.: an Ancient Source of Beneficial Compounds with Modern Benefits.Pharmacognosy sweet gum tree leaves vs maple leaves, vol bad for! In parks, campuses, and more the same as a forest tree in wild... Gum trees, and crates leaf shape that a group of relatives does not no ; over! Are more easily trod on, flat-winged pods each containing a single-seed fruit may even white! The sweet odor with over 100 species of maple, but it becomes furrowed with age, alligator! A reduction cut on the tree matures in 1542 Liriodendron tulipifera ) is the seed pods confuses. Sycamore ( Platanus occidentalis ) has larger leaves with pointed lobes and peeling... Hard to tell which maple from the parent tree they come in pairs the wild, it forms green. Typically grown as ornamental trees, and more the country seed pods are found in damp soil it... Why a tree with opposite leaf arrangement is there arent a ton of tree.... Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists illustrated book trees by Pamela Hickman will delight young readers discoveries!

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