marylandbiodiversityproject: Sweet Gum (Liquidambar…
Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is an ubiquitous tree of Maryland’s coastal plain. The seed pods and five pointy-lobed leaves are very distinctive and often cover the ground wherever the trees are present. Check out the Sweet Gum species page at the Maryland Biodiversity Project: http://ift.tt/1kQUKf9
Top photo by Jim Brighton.
Bottom photo by Bill Hubick.
We have a lovely sweet gum in our front yard. For the last few weeks it has been full of bird song, because the seed pods are releasing their seeds and the goldfinches are twitterpated about it. Last year a pair of downy woodpeckers nested in it.
The one downside: when I go to collect the morning paper from our driveway I sometimes step on a seed pod in my bare feet. But on balance I’m a big fan of the tree.
Reposted from http://ift.tt/1mlq5lu.
