Sweet Gum Tree Fruit Edible

It can also be chewed to sweeten the breath.

Sweet gum tree fruit edible. It is not however sweet. It forms in cavities of the bark and also exudes naturally. The trees spike ball fruit is almost as telltale for identification as the star shaped leaves. They were formerly often treated in hamamelidaceae.

There are 2 other species in the genus native to south eastern us they are the ogeechee lime nyssa ogeche and water tupelo nyssa aquatica this article primarily focuses on nyssa silvatica but many points could apply to either of the other species. Gum resin from the trees has. Black tupelo nyssa sylvatica also called black gum tree is a north eastern american native tree producing edible fruit in the fall. They are decorative deciduous trees that are used in the wood industry and for ornamental purposes.

The somewhat sweet sap was allowed to dry some and then used as a chewing gum. These handsome trees have a pyramidal canopy when young that becomes rounded with age. Sweet gum trees have various medicinal uses. The aromatic resin storax is obtained from the trunk of this tree.

The sweet gum got its name for the resinous sap that results when you score its bark. They make excellent lawn or shade trees in large landscapes. In comparison the mildly bitter sweet gum is definitely sweeter. The only edible part of the tree is the dried sap which makes a fragrant bitter chewing gum.

Despite its name the gum is not sweet. The resin has a wide range of uses including medicinal incense perfumery soap and as an adhesive. Sweet gum tree leaves have five to seven pointed lobes and their shape will remind you of a star. Let s not forget about the beauty of the sweet gum ball tree itself.

It is harvested in autumn. Other uses of the herb. The spines become even spinier and holes open up to reveal seeds inside the balls. In its fresh liquid form it was used to flavor chewing gum up into the 1920 s.

Production can be stimulated by beating the trunk in the spring. Their fruit is effective against rheumatic pain. Their fall color lasts much longer than most other trees. Mature leaves are 4 to 7 inches wide.

A chewing gum and a stabilizer for cakes etc is obtained from the resin. It takes the sweet gum tree 20 to 30 years to mature enough to produce its fruit. This large tree provides shade in the summer gorgeous orange red and yellow leaves in the fall and is a great privacy barrier. Edible parts of sweet gum.

The fruit it bears provides food for many animals including squirrels wood ducks whitetail deer birds and beavers. The green pods contain small aromatic seeds which when chewed after a meal help with digestion. While you wait the tree has much to offer. Liquidambar commonly called sweetgum star gum in the uk gum redgum satin walnut or american storax is the only genus in the flowering plant family altingiaceae and has 15 species.

It s called sweet gum to separate it from a different species altogether the black gum nyssa sylvatica which is extremely sour and bitter. The bark has astringent properties and addresses dysentery and diarrhea. These seeds are food for about 25 species.