Conical deciduous trees, with a resinous sap. Twigs moderate, terete and smooth or with variously developed corky ridges; pith angled, continuous or nearly so, white or brownish. Buds solitary, ovoid, with about 6 exposed scales. Leaf-scars alternate, elliptical or triangular; bundle-traces 3, large; stipule-scars none.

Fig. 122. Liquidambar styraciflua.

Fig. 125. Spiraea alba.

Fig. 126. Spiraea latifolia.

Fig. 127. Spiraea tomentosa.

Fruit a long-stalked globose dry head formed by numerous somewhat cohering capsules.

1. L. styraciflua L. Sweetgum. A tree 15-35 m. high, the trunk 6-12 dm. in diameter, the bark very rough; branches often winged with corky ridges; twigs shiny, green or brown, aromatic; buds 6-12 mm. long, the scales orange-brown. Moist woods, Florida to Texas, Mexico and Central America, north to New York, Ohio and Missouri (Fig. 122).