Liquidambar styraciflua or the American sweetgum tree is an ornamental deciduous tree that is recognizable by its five-pointed star shaped leaves. The arrangement of its branches can sometimes look reptilian in form, and that complied with the leaves that could resemble alligator feet leads the tree to also be called "Alligatorwood".
You can help scientists understand how climate change is impacting this species by using the phenophase guide below to observe its lifecycle in Nature's Notebook.
Sweet Gum Phenophase Guide
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