Silver Maple Acer saccharinum L.
Characteristics
Leaves: Opposite & simple; smooth & light green on top with a smooth silver bottom, contains five-lobes with ridged edges, often grows to be about 8 inches in length and width; leaf stalks are shaded red.
Flower: Staminate (Male) and Pistillate (Female) can be found on the same tree in small, greenish-yellow group, blooms in February & March.
Fruit: Grow to be about 3 inches in length and are developed in pairs with green or yellow winged seeds.
Twig: Shades of red and brown, thin; leaf scars opposite with U-shaped, with 3 to 7 bundle traces
Bud: Reddish brown in color, up to 1/8 inch in length, smooth or somewhat fuzzy, round in shape
Bark: Silver or gray in color, smooth but develops rough and often shaggy texture with age.
Form: Grows to 100 feet tall and 5 foot wide at the trunk of the tree; rounded crown
Habitat: Damp soil
Range: From Florida and Texas to northern areas of New Brunswick, Minnesota, South Dakota and Oklahoma.
Distinguishing Features: Differs from sugar maple, underside of this leaf is silvery and is deeply lobed.
Wood Description & Use: Hard, light brown with tight-grain; used for decoration and furniture
Location: Toledo, Illinois
Sources: Mohlenbrock, Robert. (N.D.). Forest Trees of Illinois. Springfield, IL: Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
© 2003 Cumberland High School Lauren H
Contact Information- lstarwalt@cumberland.k12.il.us