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American Sweetgum vs Castor-Aralia

These species are sometimes confused because of their similar leaves; they are easily distinguished by the Castor-Aralia's thorns.

American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

Castor-Aralia (Kalopanax septemlobus)

A distinctive tree with star-shaped leaves and hard, spiky fruits. Native to eastern North America where it tends to be found on moist to wet sites.
An uncommonly cultivated introduced species in North America, someties escaping into the wild; has potential to become invasive, but not widely planted.
Stems lack thorns; sometimes covered in ridges.
Photo © Scott Loarie, Public Domain.
Stems have thorns.
Photo © Summit Metro Parks, CC BY-SA 4.0.

References & External Resources

These short lists show only links helpful for ID. For a complete list of references and resources also covering other aspects of ecology, visit the links section of the full article on each plant, which is the first entry here.

American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

Castor-Aralia (Kalopanax septemlobus)

Liquidambar styraciflua | Go Botany (About This Site)

Kalopanax septemlobus | Go Botany (About This Site)

Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweet Gum) | Illinois Wildflowers (About This Site)

No corresponding entry

Sweetgum | Virginia Tech Dendrology Factsheets (About This Site)

No corresponding entry

Liquidambar styraciflua | Flora of North America (About This Site)

No corresponding entry

Liquidambar styraciflua | Biota of North America Project (BONAP) (About This Site)

Kalopanax septemlobus | Biota of North America Project (BONAP) (About This Site)