Wann reifen die Früchte aus?
Die Frucht des Amberbaums reift im Herbst aus. Sie erkennen die Reife daran, dass sich die Früchte öffnen bzw. geöffnet haben. Es sind zwei Klappen, die sich öffnen und aus denen Samen fallen.
Lesen Sie auch
- Johanniskraut in Blüte - in Augenschein genommen
- Einen Farn bestimmen - seine Wedel in Augenschein genommen
- Der Zylinderputzerbaum in Augenschein genommen
20 Jahre lang warten
But be careful: not every sweetgum tree bears fruit. A sweetgum tree does not bloom for the first time until it is around 20 years old - different from variety to variety. That means you have to wait around 20 years for the first fruits to appear.
External characteristics of the fruit
This is what the fruits of the sweetgum look like:
- spherical
- 2 to 3 cm tall
- consist of numerous lignified capsules that are connected (up to 40 capsules per fruit)
- hanging on long green stems
- grouped in bundles (similar to grapes)
- first green, later brown
- studded with spines
- reminiscent of morning stars
Sterile and fertile seeds
In autumn, the seeds fall out and lie on the ground. The majority of the seeds are sterile, i.e. not capable of germination. They are small and angular. The few fertile seeds are larger, elliptical in shape, dark brown in color and provided with membranous wings. They are carried away with the help of the wind.
The flowers - inconspicuous
The blossoms of the sweetgum tree are much more inconspicuous than the fruits. A main reason will be that they appear in time with the fresh leaves. Like the leaves, their color is a lush green.
The flowering period usually begins in May (less often in April). The flowers are unisexual. That is, there are male and female flowers. The male inflorescences stand upright. They are reminiscent of the closed inflorescences of chestnuts. The ears are between 5 and 7 cm long. The female inflorescences hang down and are composed of balls.
Tips
Often the fruits stick to the sweetgum tree all winter. This makes them a small but fine ornament.
