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American sweetgum tree (fruit and fall foliage)

Liquidambar styraciflua

Photo by Geodialist
Published on Project Noah
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38.7537, -77.0823

Field Notes

Description:

American sweetgum trees are among the last deciduous trees in the mid-Atlantic region to change color and drop their leaves. Seems like Mother Nature saved the best for last -- Sweetgum trees go out in a blaze of glory! Leaves change color from green to yellow to red to a rich reddish-purple. Photo 1 shows Sweetgum tree "fruit"; all photos show fall foliage. Photos 4-5 show a Sweetgum tree leaf, identified in situ using "Leafsnap" app for Apple iOS mobile devices.

Habitat:

Landscape planting in a green space between commercial buildings.

Notes:

© Copyright 2011 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved. www.wsanford.com

Reference Links:

Liquidambar styraciflua

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (11)
Latimeria
Thanks for the link. I was somewhat aware you could browse the leaf shapes, but that's not the quickest way to an ID. But, if I'm completely lost, that's probably what I'll have to resort to.
Geodialist
"Leafsnap" works very well, Derek. In my somewhat limited experience, Leafsnap failed to correctly ID a leaf sample two times: 1) an evergreen tree, called a "Metasequoia" by a woman on whose property the tree is located; and 2) dark-colored leaves, such as deep reddish-purple Sweetgum leaves. Re: failure No. 2, I speculate it's caused when the app compares the white leaf shape against a black background (see Photo 5, above) -- I think Leafsnap can't create the white shape when the leaf specimen is dark, resulting in a black-on-black image and epic failure! BTW, all is not lost for Android users! Are you aware that you can browse the Leafsnap species images online? http://leafsnap.com/species/
Latimeria
What I learned after taking a Botany class is that I'm thoroughly dissatisfied with the popular perception of a fruit: it's much too narrow! Geodialist, I see you used the LeafSnap app, how has that worked for you? I'm hoping they will release an Android version soon, but I was hoping for it back in July...
AnnaWhipkey
To add to the confusion, many culinary vegetables are botanically fruits (e.g. tomato, cucumber, squash, eggplant). Botanically the pea pod is a fruit while the pea is a seed.
iamcherreymaiya
interesting.. we learn something out from confusion.. :-)
KristalWatrous
The botanical definition of a fruit is a structure which contains seeds. The commercial or grocery definition of a fruit is more like what you're thinking Alice. So botanically the spikey ball is the fruit of this tree, containing the seeds.
Geodialist
A few months ago, I agreed with you completely, Alice. Then I did a little research, and now I'm thoroughly confused! ;-)
alicelongmartin
It is probably only my different perception. Seeds are in the fruit, but I think of fruit as often being consumable and plenty of plants produce the seeds without a consumable fruit, so in my mind I think of it as a seed pod. Don't get bothered because I feel you are right too.
Geodialist
The "prickly ball" is called "fruit," according to "Leafsnap" app. My current thinking is "fruit" and "seed pods" are synonyms -- can anyone tell me whether there's a technical difference between the terms?
alicelongmartin
I question that the prickly ball is fruit, it is more likely a seed pod. Attractive Fall color.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
The Color Red
Mission
Fall Into Phenology
Mission
Fruiting Bodies of the World
Mission
Seeds and Seed Pods

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Photographed
PublishedNovember 20, 2011

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