Red Gum or Sweet Gum

Red Gum or Sweet Gum (Liquidambar) is composed of about 4 species native to North and Central America, and Asia. The North American species is L. styraciflua. All species are identical at the cellular level. Liquidambar styraciflua is native to the southeastern United States to just west of the Mississippi River. The trees attain heights of 100 ft with diameters of 3 ft. Liquidambar sapwood is white to light pink and the heartwood is a light to dark reddish brown. The grain is interlocked, making it difficult to season and work. The wood is hard, stiff, and heavy and works well with most tools under most applications. It is used for fuel, lumber (boxes, crates, dimension stock, furniture parts and fixtures), plywood, pulpwood, railroad ties, slack cooperage and veneer.

http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/TechSheets/HardwoodNA/htmlDocs/liquidam.html.

Characteristics found in the Red Gum (Liquidambar spp.):

• Diffuse porous
• Scalariform perforations (11-50)
• IV pits linear
• Spirals in vessel member tips
• Rays 1-4 seriate & homocellular to heterocellular

WOOD SLIDES
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CHARCOAL SLIDES