This is the distinctive “spike ball” fruit of an American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). These hard, dry compound fruits have numerous capsules which contain seeds and are nicknamed “burr balls”, “gum balls”, “space bugs”, “sticker balls”, or commonly “spike balls”. Sweetgum is a deciduous tree native to warm temperate areas of eastern North America and tropical montane regions of Mexico and Central America. It is a popular ornamental tree in temperate climates.
More info on this species here: https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/liquidambar/styraciflua/
Accession Number: 333.13 (lot number)
Captured with Artec Spider 3D Scanner https://www.artec3d.com/portable-3d-scanners/artec-spider-v2
CC AttributionCreative Commons Attribution
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