Gumball
Gumball was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1990. The original lineup consisted of Don Fleming, Eric Vermillion, and Jay Spiegel. In 1992, a fourth member was added, Malcolm Riviera who had previously played with Fleming and Spiegel in the Velvet Monkeys.
What are some facts about the Gumball tree?
Facts About the Gumball Tree. By Jacob J. Wright; Updated September 21, 2017. An attractive, large shade tree, the gumball tree is more widely known as the sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). Its woody, spiny, rounded fruits are called "gumballs" and cover the ground in fall and winter once they drop from the branches.
What is sweet gum tree sap used for?
While you wait, the tree has much to offer. The sweet gum got its name for the resinous sap that results when you score its bark. It is not, however, sweet. The gum has long been harvested and used for chewing gum, but it is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties.
What are the balls on a sweet gum tree called?
Sweetgum trees are known for their balls, also called gumballs, sweetgum fruits, or capsules. The spiky gumballs hang in clusters. The hard, brown, woody sweetgum balls measure between 1” and 3” (2.5 – 7.5 cm) and contain numerous seeds.
What is sweet gum balm used for?
Medicinal Uses. Boiled and cooled sap from sweet gum trees makes a balm that is rich in cinnamic acid, benzyl, ethyl and cinnamyl cinnamate. This medicinally potent balm has been used to treat various ailments, including skin problems.
Are gumball trees good for anything?
Ecological Uses of Sweet Gum Seed-rich sweet gum pods make food for squirrels, chipmunks and birds. Trees are fast growing and resistant to insect attack, which makes them useful in land reclamation and reforestation projects. They are used to reclaim former zinc and phosphorus mines.
Can you eat sweet gum tree balls?
Are sweetgum tree balls edible? While they're not edible, the balls can double as spiky mulch to keep animals away from young plants. You can even get creative and use them to make holiday trinkets or decorative balls for bowls.
Are sweet gum trees worth anything?
Sweetgum is a relatively hard, uniform grained wood previously used for furniture and plywood. It tends to warp and stain easily. It is low valued and currently rarely used, except for industrial blocking and pallets.
What do they use gum trees for?
Gum Trees (Eucalyptus) Are Made Into Wood Products Gum trees, like many others, have wood that is used in cabinetry, furniture, doors, paneling, plywood, palettes, and more.
Is gumball tree good firewood?
Sweet Gum burns good when dry, like most other types of hardwood. It produces up to 20.6 million BTU per cord, which is better than the average for burning. Although the wood burns quickly, mixing it with other hardwoods will give you better results.
Are gum balls toxic to dogs?
Sweet gum trees bloom with inconspicuous, yellowish-green flowers in the spring that turn to seedpods -- which are often called gumballs -- in the fall. The tree is not toxic to dogs and cats, but the seedpods do present a different type of health threat if your pet were to step on one.
Should I remove sweet gum trees?
Their roots compete for soil nutrients and may cause damage to surrounding plants and trees. Killing your sweetgum tree and removing its root system saves gardening time by eliminating gumball litter and damaging property elements, such as your home's foundation or flowerbeds.
Can sweet gum trees be used for lumber?
Sweet Gum Lumber In the South Eastern United States, Sweet Gum trees are utilized for lumber and furniture making. The lumber from Sweet Gum heartwood has a dark rich color and is often used for speaker boxes and various forms of furniture, cabinetry, or doors [1].
Do squirrels eat sweet gum balls?
Sweet gum balls start out plump and green, but they dry as they mature. The spines become even spinier, and holes open up to reveal seeds inside the balls. These seeds are food for about 25 species of birds, chipmunks and squirrels, says Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Can you make syrup from sweet gum trees?
And if you're looking for a reward for all those nasty gum balls you have to pick up every year, even sweet gum trees can be a “surprising supplier of sweet syrup-producing sap,” according to Desiree Munn on her blog, Cooking Wild and Free.
Can you make gum from a gum tree?
A gum is produced by making an incision in the bark of the tree and collecting the exudate repeatedly throughout the season. Gums so obtained consist of small lumps, usually transparent and light yellow.
How do you clean sweet gum balls?
Raking or Blowing. Raking with a close-tined rake and bagging is an effective way of removing the balls, as well as for getting exercise. An additional method for removal is by blowing them into a pile with a power blower, ready for bagging. Tall grass interferes with the efficiency of both these methods.
How do you make Tamiflu from sweet gum balls?
2:074:19Sweet Gum Ball Processing...home made Tamiflu - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI've got my jar here and I'm filling up the little sweet gum balls inside the jar.MoreI've got my jar here and I'm filling up the little sweet gum balls inside the jar.
How do I stop my sweet gum tree from producing balls?
Snipper is an injectable product that de-balls a sweetgum. It can be used by a homeowner but hiring a certified arborist might be a better solution. Another alternative for you is to cut down the offending tree and plant a fruitless sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua 'Rotundiloba') in its place.
Can you sell sweet gum balls?
Prices vary, but you can get as much as $20 for 100 sweet gum balls. Hopefully, this has given you some ideas on how to make a little extra money, easily maintain a clean yard, and put those sweet gum balls to good use.
What are gumball trees used for?
Cut trees are used as lumber, veneer, plywood, railroad ties, fuel and pulpwood.
What are the leaves of a gumball tree?
Leaves of the gumball tree are star-like with five or seven pointed lobes. Crush the leaves and they emit a fragrance. In autumn the foliage attains mottled, changing hues of red, orange, yellow and purple. The tiny flowers are not readily seen in early to mid-spring, but are greenish yellow with a fringe of red. Female blossoms develop into rounded seed capsules--the "gumballs"--which turn orange-brown to dark brown and linger on the branches and eventually fall to the ground where they persist for well over six months before softening and decomposing.
How tall does a gumball tree get?
As they age, the canopy becomes more rounded or oblong. It grows 60 to 75 feet tall and 40 to 50 feet wide.
Where does gumball tree grow?
It naturally grows from the panhandle of Connecticut southward to the coastal plain and Central Florida and then west into the Ohio River Valley and Eastern Texas. It doesn't grow naturally in the Appalachian Mountains.
What is a liquidambar tree?
liquidambar image by Claudio Calcagno from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>. An attractive, large shade tree, the gumball tree is more widely known as the sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua).
What Is A Gum Tree?
A gum tree is a name that refers to many types of trees in the myrtle family, from eucalyptus (the most well-known) to angophora and corymbia.
What Is A Gum Tree Used For?
Gum trees are used to create a wide range of products, not limited to just that which stems from their sap.
Air Fresheners Are Made From Gum Trees
Eucalyptus tends to be a popular scent for people to have in their homes.
Medicinal Teas From Gum Trees (Eucalyptus)
While eucalyptus essential oil should never be ingested, there are eucalyptus products that can be, when made by those who know how to properly and safely do so.
Gum Trees (Eucalyptus) Are Made Into Wood Products
Gum trees, like many others, have wood that is used in cabinetry, furniture, doors, paneling, plywood, palettes, and more.
Wrapping It Up!
Gum trees can clearly be used to produce a range of goods, from edible products to furniture, hygiene products, and so much more.
What is the name of the tree with large, star-shaped leaves and dark brown spiky gumballs?
The American sweetgum tree ( Liquidambar styraciflua) has large, star-shaped leaves and dark brown spiky gumballs. As a majestic shade tree, the American sweetgum has a tall, straight trunk with a broadly conical crown. This low-maintenance landscape tree grows between 60 and 80 ft. (18 – 24 m) tall and up to 60 ft. (12 m wide).
What are the balls on a sweetgum tree called?
Sweetgum tree balls (gumballs) are green when immature (left) and dark brown when mature (right) Sweetgum trees are known for their balls, also called gumballs, sweetgum fruits , or capsules. The spiky gumballs hang in clusters.
What is a sweetgum tree?
Sweetgum trees (botanical name Liquidambar) are a species of large deciduous flowering trees with large lobed leaves, small globular flowers, and seed-containing spiky gumballs. Sweetgum trees are identified by their colorful lobed leaves that can be orange, red, yellow, or purple colors in the fall.
How to tell if a maple tree is sweetgum or maple?
It can be challenging to tell sweetgum trees apart from some maple tree varieties. The main differences between the two species are that sweetgum leaves usually have deeper lobbing and are arranged alternately on branches, whereas maple tree leaves have an opposite leaf arrangement.
How tall is a Chinese sweetgum?
Also called Twainese sweet gum or Formosan gum, this Liquidambar species grows between 100 and 131 ft. (30 – 40 m) tall. Not as cold-hardy as other sweetgums, the Chinese sweetgum grows in USDA zones 7 – 9.
What is the last tree to drop leaves?
The tree’s spectacular foliage fall colors set sweetgums apart from other deciduous trees. Also, in spring, sweetgum trees are usually the last of the deciduous trees to produce leaves.
How did sweetgum get its name?
Sweetgum trees get their name from the sweet, sticky, resinous substance the oozes from the cut trunk. The scientific name— Liquidambar —also refers to this yellow sap and means liquid amber. The common name redgum comes from the spectacular red color of the leaves in the fall and the reddish-yellow color of the tree’s sap. Other common names for the sweetgum tree include liquid amber tree and sugar gum tree.
What is the bark of a gum tree used for?
Gum resin from the trees has anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties and has been used to treat bedsores, topical herpes and angina. Boiled and cooled sap from sweet gum trees makes a balm that is rich in cinnamic acid, benzyl, ethyl and cinnamyl cinnamate.
Why are sweet gum trees important?
They are used to reclaim former zinc and phosphorous mines. Sweet gum trees also fix nitrogen in the soil and improve its fertility. av-override. ‒‒:‒‒. /. ‒‒:‒‒. Replay. Skip.
What is sweet gum wood?
Timber from the sweet gum tree is a finely textured, moderately heavy white colored sapwood with a light pink tint. Its heartwood is variable and ranges from dark brown to a lighter, reddish brown. Sweet gum wood is valued for its attractive, interlocked grain. It easily takes on staining, painting and is moderately easy to shape and bore. Sweet gum wood is commercially used for electronic cabinetry, furniture, doors, millwork and paneling. It is also used to make baskets, railroad ties, crates and pallets. Sweet gum wood is also used to make plywood, veneer and upholstered furniture frames.
How tall is a sweet gum tree?
This stately tree, reaching heights up to 150 feet, makes an imposing sight in the outdoors.
What are the colors of sweet gum trees?
Their foliage takes on a range of fall colors, including orange, to yellow, red and purple, livening up the landscape. Sweet gum trees also serve as privacy barriers and provide seclusion in ...
What woods do gums have?
Lastly, their woods differ in color. Sweet gums have sapwood ranging from white to light pink and heartwood that’s reddish-brown. Black gums have light gray-brown sapwood and dark gray-brown heartwood.
Why are sweet gum trees called sweet gum trees?
Sweetgum trees are named as such because of the sweet aroma of their sap. Their berries are just as bitter as the black gum berries.
What is the fruit of a black gum tree?
As the Kookaburra song suggests, black gum trees produce fruit that attracts birds, insects, and small mammals such as squirrels and deer. The fruit resembles blue grapes or berries which are high in crude fat, calcium, phosphorus, and fiber. It ripens in the fall.
How do you know if a tree has fungus?
The first sign of damage from these little guys is twig and leaf wilting. They bore into branches and leaves, leaving behind tiny holes. On top of that, they also infest the tree with a fungus. As the fungus spreads, more leaves and branches wilt and, eventually, stop growing.
Why is black gum used in furniture?
Because of the durability of its interlocking grain, black gum was once used for oxen yolk or chopping bowls. Even though its timber isn’t considered beautiful by woodworking standards, it’s still used today. It’s used most often in furniture, railroad ties, cabinets, and caskets.
How tall do black gum trees grow?
A slow-growing tree, black gum trees need adequate space to spread their roots. On average, they grow between 30 and 50 feet high. They are adaptable, growing in many different habitats.
How long do black gums live?
Pro: Because they grow on the slower side, black gums have a long lifespan. They can live over 650 years!
What is sweet gum wood?
Sweet gum wood is a favorite for furniture, and the sap is added to tincture of benzoin and found often in incense. There is quite a lot of good wrapped up in this amazing tree. If you’d like to grow your own sweet gum, first understand that it’s a commitment to a tree that many describe as a nuisance.
How long does it take for a sweet gum tree to produce fruit?
Sweet Gum Healing. It takes the sweet gum tree 20 to 30 years to mature enough to produce its fruit. The trees’ spike ball fruit is almost as telltale for identification as the star-shaped leaves. While you wait, the tree has much to offer.
Is fruiting tree sap good for you?
It is a potent anti-fungal and an effective natural pesticide. Once you have a fruiting tree, an entirely new variety of benefits is available to you.
Is sweet gum a sap?
The sweet gum got its name for the resinous sap that results when you score its bark . It is not, however, sweet. The gum has long been harvested and used for chewing gum, but it is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties.
What is a Sweetgum Tree?
Sweetgums are straight, tall trees with a single trunk that reaches a height of 75 feet (23 m.) or more. These handsome trees have a pyramidal canopy when young that becomes rounded with age. They make excellent lawn or shade trees in large landscapes.
How big are the leaves of a sweet gum tree?
Sweet gum tree leaves have five to seven pointed lobes, and their shape will remind you of a star. Mature leaves are 4 to 7 inches (10 to 18 cm.) wide. Their fall color lasts much longer than most other trees.
What are the downsides of sweetgum trees?
The downside to growing a sweetgum tree is the seed pods. Children call them gumballs or stickerballs, and it’s rare to find a child with a sweetgum growing nearby that hasn’t had an unpleasant experience with the spiky pods.
Why are sweetgum trees invasive?
These are trees that can become invasive in an area because they take root easily from seeds and grow quickly, often excluding all other plants in the area. It’s best to plant them in maintained areas where you’ll be cleaning up the seed pods.
Do sweetgums like sun?
Sweetgums need a location in full sun or partial shade. They grow in almost any soil, from sandy to clay and from acid to slightly alkaline. They have a lot of shallow roots, but they also have some deep roots that prefer moist, deep soil. They tolerate winters in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 9.
Do gumballs need raking?
Although they don’t need much direct care, they add quite a bit to your fall landscape maintenance. They drop an abundance of leaves that need raking, and gumballs fall from the tree over a period of months. Because of the hazard they present and the potential to take root, you’ll want to keep them swept up.
Do sweetgums need fertilizer?
Once established, sweetgums need very little care. You don’t need to fertilize them every year, although they appreciate some general purpose fertilizer or compost every few years. The trees are drought tolerant and don’t need to be watered once mature.
