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Trees of NewHaven
Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua
Nov 25 2024, Next to TSAI CITY at Yale
The sweetgum tree is a true standout in the tree world, with its iconic star-shaped leaves and vibrant fall colors that range from fiery reds to deep purples. It’s not just a pretty face—this ancient tree, dating back over 50 million years, produces spiky “gumballs” filled with seeds that wildlife like squirrels and birds love. Its fragrant sap, once used by Native Americans as chewing gum and medicine, gives the tree its name, “sweetgum.” Not to mention, its fine-grained wood is perfect for furniture and flooring! And as a bonus, sweetgum trees are like natural air purifiers, soaking up pollutants while adding a splash of beauty to any landscape.
Sugar maple, Acer saccharum
Nov 25 2024, Opposite Becton Center at Yale
The sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is a true marvel, especially in autumn, when its leaves blaze into shades of golden yellow, fiery orange, and deep red, a spectacle driven by pigments like anthocyanins and carotenoids. Famous for its striking five-lobed leaves, which can span up to 20 centimeters across, this tree isn’t just a visual masterpiece—it’s also the lifeblood of maple syrup production. A single mature sugar maple can yield up to 40 liters of sap per season, with 160 liters of sap required to produce just one liter of syrup. Towering up to 30 meters tall with trunks exceeding 90 centimeters in diameter, these trees are long-lived, often thriving for more than 300 years in optimal conditions. Their dense, durable wood—renowned for its fine grain—is prized for crafting furniture, flooring, and even musical instruments like violins. Preferring cool, temperate climates, sugar maples are cornerstones of eastern North American forests.
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