Sweetgum seed (spike ball)

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