Liquidambar

The liquidambar, commonly called sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) is a large deciduous tree belonging to the Altingiaceae family. Linnaeus named the genus Liquidambar due to the plant’s  production of an amber-coloured liquid, whilst the specific epithet (styraciflua) refers to its capacity to produce resin. The liquidambar comes from the north eastern part of North America and has been present in Italy from the second half of the 1700s. It was introduced into the Lucca area in Elisa’s gardens, most likely from the parks at the court of Naples.