The spiky, dried fruits of the Sweetgum tree, Liquidamber styraciflua, often persist on the tree through winter. A strong wind can bring them down to the sidewalk, where the jagged orbs look otherworldly. Each fruit is composed of 40-60 capsules, which are now long since emptied of their seeds. A native tree, and a regular on our sidewalks and parks, the species is more common in the South. Its star-shaped leaves are quite distinctive and can be very colorful — yellow, orange, red, maroon — in the fall.
Sweetgum Fruit
5 responses to “Sweetgum Fruit”
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Love these.
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The sweetgum is my favorite deciduous tree, the leaves of which reveal the full visible spectrum of color in autumn. A subtle sign of the new growing season is when the spiny capsules begin to drop en masse to the ground, which has been happening lately due to this “eternal spring” of a mild winter in NYC.
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They’re great except when they’re in your front yard. I want to cut the tree down, but my mom won’t let me. One of these days I’m gonna get it.
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I have to admit I’m on your mom’s side. A little yard work is good for one’s humility.
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[…] seed pod a long time ago. I just went to confirm and found out that it’s actually a sweet gum fruit […]
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