Sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua
Family: Altingiaceae
Natural History
Leaves and fruits of sweetgum | Photo credit: Franklin Bonner, USFS (ret.), Bugwood.org
The sweetgum is also known as redgum, star-leaved gum, alligator-wood, and gumtree. It is easily recognized by its star-shaped leaves and its woody, spiny, ball-like fruit.