Sweet Gum – Liquidambar styraciflua
Sweet Gum fall foliage is a riot of molten-lava oranges and yellows
Hamamelidaceae: Witch-hazel Family
Sweet Gum is also commonly called redgum and sapgum. Leaves have a resinous, sweet odor when crushed.
Habitat: Moist soils of valleys and slopes; in mixed woodlands. Often a pioneer tree after clear-cut logging, clearing, and old farm fields.
Morton Arboretum Sweet Gum is 52 years old [3]
Sweet Gum is native to the eastern United States and grows as far south as Guatemala. The four species in this genus have globose flowers and globose, pendulous fruits which are aggregates of beaked capsules. Grows at medium rate to 80 feet.
Sweet Gum is an important timber tree, second in production only to oaks among the hardwoods. It is used in furniture making, cabinetwork, veneer, plywood, pulpwood, barrels and boxes. 
Sweet Gum Fruit Husk
References
1. eFloras.org, Flora of North America, “Hamamelidaceae”
2. eFloras.org, Flora of North America, “Liquidambar Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 999. 1753”
3. Sweet gum tree, Morton Arboretum accession 545-58-2 photos © Bruce Marlin
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