Liquidambar Styraciflua:
The distinctive compound fruit is hard, dry, and globose composed of numerous (40–60) capsules. Each capsule, containing one to two small seeds, has a pair of terminal spikes (for a total of 80–120 spikes). When the fruit opens and the seeds are released, each capsule is associated with a small hole (40–60 of these) in the compound fruit.
Fallen, opened fruits are often abundant beneath the trees; these have been popularly nicknamed "burr (or bir) balls", "gum balls", "space bugs", "sticker balls", or "spike balls".
The fruit is a multicapsular spherical head and hangs on the branches during the winter. The woody capsules are mostly filled with abortive seeds resembling sawdust. The seeds are about one-quarter of an inch thick, winged, and wind-dispersed. Goldfinches, purple finches, squirrels, and chipmunks eat the seeds of the tree. The seeds stratify within 30–90 days at 33°–41 °F or soaked in water for 15–20 days. The long-stemmed fruit balls of Liquidambar resemble those of the American sycamore or buttonwood (Platanus occidentalis), but are spiny and remain intact after their seeds are dispersed.
SIZE: They're about (3.5-4.5cm) in diameter on average, These cones will medium amounts of tannins into the water. In our opinion one of the best products to stain your water nice and dark.
PREPARATION: You need to boil Sweet gum cones for at least an hour (sometimes a bit more) to really saturate them, because they do float like mad when first immersed.
ORIGIN: Native Northern and Central America (Sourced locally)
All our Australian Botanicals are pest and pollution free and are organically sourced.
NOTE: These are a natural product, and display variation in colour, size, and texture. Each pod is unique! The photo serves as a reasonable representation of what to expect.
All of our aquatic botanicals are intended for ornamental aquarium or terrarium use only. Please use common sense and take the time to boil or soak all botanicals prior to using them, to reduce the possibility of problems. All our botanicals have been tried and tested, in saying that though go slow when introducing any botanicals into your systems, so you can judge the effect they have on your fishes and plants. They are not intended for human consumption. DO NOT INGEST!
NOT INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION