Sweet Gum (Scientific Name: Liquidamber Styraciflua)
Sweet Gum
Description
Type~ Angiosperm
Leaves~ The leaves are relatively wide with a single point at the end of the center stalk. They are generally 3-5 inches wide and 6-8 inches long.
Bark~ Mature Sweet Gum bark is grey and vertically grooved.
Habitat~ The Sweet Gum is indigenous of the Southeast United States, but thrives in many habitats and locations.
Co-exists~ Sweet Gum trees can usually be found with many other Sweet Gums, and small flowers like daisies and weeds.
Reproduction~ The Sweet Gum reproduces sexually.
Enthnobotany
The Sweet Gum is indigenous of Southeast United States and in various areas of Central America. Its fruit is eaten to cure joint and soft tissue pains, as well as vasculitis. The tree’s bark can be eaten to help cure diarrhea and dysentery by contracting the muscles of the large and small intestines.
The tree’s sap also has many medical benefits such as preventing inflammation in cuts and burns. It can stop the secretion of mucus from the nose, throat, and lungs.
Sweet Gum wood is extremely strong and durable, so it is useful in building furniture and cabinets. When stained, it shines a light pink color. (Gilani, 2009)
Current Research
Chemists doing research on the sweet gum fruit are suggesting certain chemicals in the fruit may aid in fighting the bird flu. The chemical shikimic adid is used in oseltamivir, a drug that is used in fighting flu viruses. (American Chemical Society, 2006)
Research done at Mississippi State is proving the sweet gum tree to be effective in building structures as well and is underutilized in the lumber industry. This would lessen the need for the slower growing oak trees already in use by major building companies. Work done with Anthony Hardwood Composites has been done to utilize making composites out of sweet gum trees, which would yield more lumber for smaller structures like cabinets and chairs. (Brasher, 2009)
Creative Writing
We were hiking through the deep forests of Georgia when we ran into a rockslide area. We read the signs and knew it was dangerous, but we chose to continue on anyways since we were almost out of food and it was getting dark. We had gotten lost earlier in the day and we thought we had a shortcut, but we didn't know it would be that dangerous.
As we were scaling down the mountain, the rocks started giving away and we slipped down the small hill and tumbled all the way to the bottom. We got up relatively uninjured, but we had scratches all over our arms and legs. We had to patch them up and stop the pain, but we had nothing in our bags except wet clothes. i remembered learning in school that Sweet Gum sap could help cuts and scrapes feel better, so we set out to find one.
We searched for about an hour until we finally came to an old Sweet Gum tree that would help cure our pain from the scratches. Shortly after we found our camp and drove home, thankful to be back in civilization.
Description
Type~ Angiosperm
Leaves~ The leaves are relatively wide with a single point at the end of the center stalk. They are generally 3-5 inches wide and 6-8 inches long.
Bark~ Mature Sweet Gum bark is grey and vertically grooved.
Habitat~ The Sweet Gum is indigenous of the Southeast United States, but thrives in many habitats and locations.
Co-exists~ Sweet Gum trees can usually be found with many other Sweet Gums, and small flowers like daisies and weeds.
Reproduction~ The Sweet Gum reproduces sexually.
Enthnobotany
The Sweet Gum is indigenous of Southeast United States and in various areas of Central America. Its fruit is eaten to cure joint and soft tissue pains, as well as vasculitis. The tree’s bark can be eaten to help cure diarrhea and dysentery by contracting the muscles of the large and small intestines.
The tree’s sap also has many medical benefits such as preventing inflammation in cuts and burns. It can stop the secretion of mucus from the nose, throat, and lungs.
Sweet Gum wood is extremely strong and durable, so it is useful in building furniture and cabinets. When stained, it shines a light pink color. (Gilani, 2009)
Current Research
Chemists doing research on the sweet gum fruit are suggesting certain chemicals in the fruit may aid in fighting the bird flu. The chemical shikimic adid is used in oseltamivir, a drug that is used in fighting flu viruses. (American Chemical Society, 2006)
Research done at Mississippi State is proving the sweet gum tree to be effective in building structures as well and is underutilized in the lumber industry. This would lessen the need for the slower growing oak trees already in use by major building companies. Work done with Anthony Hardwood Composites has been done to utilize making composites out of sweet gum trees, which would yield more lumber for smaller structures like cabinets and chairs. (Brasher, 2009)
Creative Writing
We were hiking through the deep forests of Georgia when we ran into a rockslide area. We read the signs and knew it was dangerous, but we chose to continue on anyways since we were almost out of food and it was getting dark. We had gotten lost earlier in the day and we thought we had a shortcut, but we didn't know it would be that dangerous.
As we were scaling down the mountain, the rocks started giving away and we slipped down the small hill and tumbled all the way to the bottom. We got up relatively uninjured, but we had scratches all over our arms and legs. We had to patch them up and stop the pain, but we had nothing in our bags except wet clothes. i remembered learning in school that Sweet Gum sap could help cuts and scrapes feel better, so we set out to find one.
We searched for about an hour until we finally came to an old Sweet Gum tree that would help cure our pain from the scratches. Shortly after we found our camp and drove home, thankful to be back in civilization.
Works Cited
Davies, J. (1999). St. john's wort: Hypericum perforatum in a nutshell. Element. Retrieved from http://www.herbs-hands-healing.co.uk/books/online-books/in-a-nutshell-st-john-s-wort-hypericum-perforatum
Gilani, N. (2009). Uses for a sweet gum tree. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/uses-sweet-gum-tree-44350.html
L. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Cycas circinalis
American Chemical Society (2006, April 5). Sweetgum Tree Could Help Lessen Shortage Of Bird Flu Drug. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 13, 2013, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/060405234139.htm
Brasher, K. (2009, April). Research finds promising use for sweetgum lumber. Retrieved from http://msucares.com/news/print/fwnews/fw06/061012.html
Davies, J. (1999). St. john's wort: Hypericum perforatum in a nutshell. Element. Retrieved from http://www.herbs-hands-healing.co.uk/books/online-books/in-a-nutshell-st-john-s-wort-hypericum-perforatum
Gilani, N. (2009). Uses for a sweet gum tree. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/uses-sweet-gum-tree-44350.html
L. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Cycas circinalis
American Chemical Society (2006, April 5). Sweetgum Tree Could Help Lessen Shortage Of Bird Flu Drug. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 13, 2013, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/060405234139.htm
Brasher, K. (2009, April). Research finds promising use for sweetgum lumber. Retrieved from http://msucares.com/news/print/fwnews/fw06/061012.html