Liquidambar is a green leafy tree in spring and summer and has very colorful leaves during autumn that eventually fall off later. This tree exists in several places of Porto, as it is the case of the Botanical Garden, the Garden of Serralves and the Square Coronel Pacheco, however its origin is on Central and North America.
According to Joana Tinoco, one of the responsible for the flora in the Botanical Garden, during autumn the leaves vary between red, yellow, orange and brown. This makes for a beautiful landscape in the city of Porto at a time of the year when the weather is not so beautiful. The leaves look like stars because of their pointed tips, and they usually have aroma.
The name liquidambar comes from the amber color of the sap that is shed by the tree when it is cut or bruised. The sap is created for medicines and hygiene products, it smells nice and that is why it is also used for the creation of perfumes.
The tree of amber, as it is also known, can reach the 20 to 30 meters of height. Its canopy is of pyramidal / conical shape and its branches have a very unique aspect since the bark of the tree forms in plates in the tips and creates quite strange forms.
The fruits of Liquidambar have a spherical shape with small peaks. Each capsule / fruit has one or two seeds and is dry.
Share with us your photos of this beautiful tree!
Written by: Francisca Rehbein
Photos by: Francisca Rehbein
Translated by: Francisca Rehbein
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