American Sweetgum Tree (Liquidambar styraciflua)
Scientific Name: Liquidambar styraciflua — American Sweetgum, Redgum.
Native Home: Eastern North America, Mexico and parts of Central America.
Height: 20–35 metres.
Lifespan: Around 100–400 years under suitable conditions.
Uses and Harvesting
Timber: Used for furniture, plywood, interior woodwork and paper pulp.
Harvesting: Mature trees are harvested for timber; aromatic resin can also be collected.
Age to Harvest: Around 25–40 years or longer for commercial timber, depending on growing conditions.
Products: Lumber, plywood, pulp, ornamental plants and aromatic resin.
History and Global Production
Traditional Use: Native peoples used parts of the tree for traditional remedies, while its resin was used as a fragrant material.
Global Spread: Widely planted as an ornamental tree beyond its native range and commercially harvested for timber in parts of the United States.
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