Sweet gum

The Sweet-gums are a genus Liquidambar in the family Hamamelidaceae comprising three species of large deciduous trees, 25-40m tall, with palmately lobed leaves:

• Liquidambar formosana - Chinese sweet-gum (central & southern China, Taiwan).
• Liquidambar orientalis - Oriental sweet-gum (Asia Minor).
• Liquidambar styraciflua - American sweet-gum (eastern North America from New York to Texas and also eastern Mexico to Guatemala).

They are popular ornamental trees, particularly in warm-temperate areas with hot summers, being some of the most reliable trees for good autumn (fall) colours in these conditions.