Liquidambar
(from liquidus, liquid, and ambar, amber; referring to the gum, called liquid storax, produced by this genus). ORD. Hamamelideae. A genus of about four species of ornamental, balsam-bearing, deciduous trees, natives of the Levant, North America, and China, with catkins of monoecious flowers, which are surrounded by a four-leaved, deciduous involucre; male catkins conical or sub-globular; females sub-globular, surrounded by scales. Leaves alternate, slender, petiolate, stipuled. The species principally grown is L. styraciflua, the leaves of which, according to Loudon, are very fragrant at all seasons, "but in spring, when they are unfolding, after a warm shower, the surrounding air is filled with their refreshing odour." Liquidambars thrive best in a moist loamy soil, and in a sheltered situation. Propagated freely by layers, which may be taken off at the end of the first autumn after they have been formed. Imported seeds (of the two species described below), allowed to remain in the catkins until the time of sowing, will be quite a year germinating. The seedlings usually attain a height of from 6in. to 8in., and may be transplanted out that year or the next.
L. imberbe (beardless). l. palmate, usually five-lobed, with the sinuses at the base of the veins, smooth. h. 10ft. to 20ft. Levant, 1759. A large bush, of slow growth, with numerous small branches crowded together into an irregular head. It has a more shrubby habit than L. styraciflua. SYN. L. orientalis.
L. orientalis (Eastern). A synonym of L. imberbe.
L. styraciflua (storax-flowing).* Sweet Gum. fl. greenish-yellow. Spring. l. palmately lobed, with the sinuses at the base of the veins, villous. h. 30ft. to 50ft. North America, 1681. An elegant tree, somewhat resembling the Maple, but having alternate leaves, which change towards the autumn to a bright red, and remain on the tree until the first frosts.
In addition to the two species above described, there are two or more species recently discovered in China--one or more being the trees which furnish the wood used by the Chinese to make the chests in which they export their tea.