Sweet Gum

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese Sweet Gum
• Formosan sweet-gum
• Formosan-gum
• Formosan Sweetgum
• Formosan gum

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Liquidambar edentata
• Liquidambar rosthornii
• Liquidambar formosana var. monticola
• Liquidambar maximowiczii
• Liquidambar tonkinensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Saxifragales and the family Altingiaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Liquidambar.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across several distinct regions of East Asia. Within China, its presence is widely documented across the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast territories. It can also be found growing on the tropical island of Hainan. Beyond the Chinese mainland, the species extends its reach into the Korean Peninsula. Collectively, these locations define its specific ecological footprint throughout the Eastern Asian landscape.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Liquidambar formosana is characterized by its existence as a perennial organism, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over many growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody structures, specifically functioning as a phanerophyte to survive various environmental conditions. The plant follows a deciduous growth pattern, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its leaves, which plays a crucial role in its adaptation to seasonal climatic shifts.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Liquidambar formosana is characterized by its robust growth form, functioning as a woody tree. It is a self-supporting species that grows in a terrestrial habitat, neither acting as an epiphyte nor as a parasite, as it maintains an independent lifestyle. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant vertical development, with heights ranging from a minimum of 30 m to a maximum of 40 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 12 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

40 m

Plant height mean:

12 m

Plant height min:

30 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Liquidambar formosana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The vegetative morphology features leaves that are distinctly trilobate in form with toothed margins, though they are notably smooth in terms of defensive structures as the plant possesses no leaf thorns or spines. From a structural standpoint, the stem exhibits a specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 573 mg/cm³, contributing to its overall physical integrity. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the assimilation of nitrogen available within the soil environment.

Leaf form :

trilobate

Leaf margin :

toothed

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

573 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Liquidambar formosana is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, relying on living organisms to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Specifically, the plant utilizes insect-mediated pollination, with bees playing a significant role in the reproductive process. Once fertilization is successful, the plant produces seeds that exhibit high uniformity in weight; the seed mass is consistently measured at 0.0042 g, representing the minimum, maximum, and mean values for the species.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.0042 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Liquidambar formosana has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Liquidambar formosana has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BETA-SITOSTEROL, Betulonic acid, alpha-Amyrin, oleanonic acid.

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Betulonic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

alpha-Amyrin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

oleanonic acid

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Conditions

Liquidambar formosana has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Crohn's disease, diarrhea, dysentery.

Crohn's disease

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Diarrhea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dysentery

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Liquidambar formosana has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extract.

Ethanol extract

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica