This southeastern tree (also extending to Central America) is virtually absent in glaciated land north of the Ohio River (K). And although widespread in Ky., Liquidambar is rare to absent on base-rich soils, especially in the Bluegrass Region where it is confined to more acid river terraces (Meijer et al. 1981). The native status of some Bluegrass records here may be doubted, but the population at Alton Swamp (ANDE) is clearly native (Bryant 1978). The species is widely planted but establishment of seedlings is local to rare on more fertile soils in central Ky. (being largely restricted to artificially disturbed riparian zones in urban areas). See AP, W and their citations for recent review of family placement. The persistent spherical fruits of this genus are highly unusual: prickly aggregates of fused capsules. There has been virtually no published research on seed dispersal--is it possible that some seeds are not released until early spring, to when fruit-fall is often delayed? The state champion is at Laterneau Woods in FULT (KDF 2020): 123 cm dbh, 43 m tall, 23 m wide.