Este trabalho teve como objetivo a caracterização anatômica e físico-mecânica da madeira de Liquidambar sp. Para tanto, foram utilizadas três árvores com oito anos de idade, provenientes de um arboreto localizado do município de Guaçuí, Espírito Santo. As características anatômicas analisadas foram as dimensões das fibras (comprimento, diâmetro total e do lume e espessura da parede), dos elementos de vasos (diâmetro tangencial e frequência) e dos raios (altura, largura e frequência). Para a caracterização físico-mecânica foram avaliadas a massa específica (básica, aparente a 12% de umidade e anidra), as contrações totais lineares e volumétrica, a resistência à flexão estática, à compressão paralela às fibras, ao cisalhamento e dureza Janka. Constatou-se frequência vascular numerosa com vasos de pequeno diâmetro tangencial, raios heterocelulares ocorrendo em baixa frequência, e fibras libriformes longas de paredes delgadas a espessas. A massa específica básica da madeira proveniente de discos retirados a 1,30 m do nível do solo foi de 0,48 g cm-3, sendo considerada média, a estabilidade dimensional foi considerada baixa, e houve grande influência da umidade nos valores de resistência da madeira. AbstractAnatomical and physical-mechanical characterization of Liquidambar sp. wood. This research aimed to improve anatomical, physical and mechanical characterization of Liquidambar sp.wood. Three trees were obtained, at eight years of age, from an arboretum located in Guaçuí, Espírito Santo State, Brazil. The analyzed variables were dimensions of the fibers (length, total diameter and diameter of the lumen and wall thickness), the vessel elements (tangential diameter and frequency), and ray (height, width and frequency). The specific gravity (basic, at 12% moisture content and dry), and total volumetric and linear shrinkages, resistance to bending, compression parallel to the fibers, shear and Janka hardness. For anatomical description it was found numerous vessels often with small tangential diameter, heterocellular rays occurring at low frequency, and long libriform fibers with thick to thin walls. The specific gravity of wood from disks taken at 1.30 m from ground level was 0.48 g cm-3, wich we considered average, the dimensional stability was low, and there was great influence of moisture in the resistance values in wood.Keywords: Anatomy; specific gravity; dimensional stability; mechanical strength.This research aimed to improve anatomical, physical and mechanical characterization of Liquidambar sp.wood. Three trees were obtained, at eight years of age, from an arboretum located in Guaçuí, Espírito Santo State, Brazil. The analyzed variables were dimensions of the fibers (length, total diameter and diameter of the lumen and wall thickness), the vessel elements (tangential diameter and frequency), and ray (height, width and frequency). The specific gravity (basic, at 12% moisture content and dry), and total volumetric and linear shrinkages, resistance to bending, compression parallel to the fibers, shear and Janka hardness. For anatomical description it was found numerous vessels often with small tangential diameter, heterocellular rays occurring at low frequency, and long libriform fibers with thick to thin walls. The specific gravity of wood from disks taken at 1.30 m from ground level was 0.48 g cm-3, wich we considered average, the dimensional stability was low, and there was great influence of moisture in the resistance values in wood
