大霧潮濕的天氣是每年初春的特點，這個時候花草樹木的相片特別少，因為照片在陰天下拍得不好，相機弄濕的機會也大．只要你能夠掌握這個時機，便擁有一些人無我有的相片！

金縷梅科的樹種在這個時刻開花，較為熟悉的是楓香．這樹 是單性花，雌雄同株，花期開在多雨水的初春，雄花早掉下來，雌花則會漸變成果．結果後種子散落地上，空的果球卻懸掛樹上長達幾個月．只在睛天才賞樹便會錯過楓香雄花的時間．

雄花(上左圖)混有黑色小鱗片，像長有頭髮．多個雌花(上右圖)聚合成球形，稍後成為聚合蒴果宿存在枝條上．(下圖)中包括了雌花，雄花，嫩葉及上年宿存的球果是最佳的楓香相片．

楓香是指此樹葉狀的三裂/五裂像楓葉，而樹有香味．學名Liquidambar formosana的屬名liquidus是液體的，ambar是琥珀，意指此樹會滋生芳香樹脂 ．

As a general rule, it is always difficult to take a good picture during humid and foggy early spring because there is not enough sunlight and the camera is easily got wet. However, if you can overcome the above difficulties, you will have a unique picture.  

Trees in family Hamamelidaceae are flowering in February, the most familiar example is Sweet Gum. The flowers are unisexual, they are blossom in the most humid spring. The male flowers are fallen down first and the female flowers are nurturing into fruits gradually. The seeds will then fall on the ground, left only the fruit shells on the tree for a few months. You will probably miss the male flowers if you only appreciate this tree on a sunny day. 

There are many black and small scales on the male flowers (top left picture), they look like hair. The female flowers grouped in solitary spherical heads (top right picture) stay on the trunk. The picture at the bottom including the male flowers, the female flowers, the fresh leaves and the spherical heads since last year is the best Sweet Gum shot!  

The Chinese name of Sweet Gum楓香 is based on its three-lobed, maple-like leaves and it has scent. The genus name in its scientific name 『Liquidambar formosana』 has its meaning, 'liquidus』 means liquid, 『ambar』 is amber, implying this tree can general fragrance sap. 

translated by Paula Wong