Acer pensylvanicum L. - Striped Maple


 

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Acer pensylvanicum - (image 1 of 7)

 

Taxonomy

Family: Aceraceae

Habitat

Understory tree of shaded, cool northern slopes. Prefers acidic soils.

Associates

Understory associates include Viburnum alnifolium, Taxus canadensis, Acer spicatum, Oxalis spp., Otrya virginiana, Carpinus caroliniana, Amelanchier arborea

Distribution

Southeastern Canada, west to Michigan and northern Wisconsin, and south in mountains to TN and northern GA.

Morphology

Deciduous tree to to 15 feet; occasionally to 35 feet. Leaves tri-lobed, the lobes long-pointed. Twigs glabrous and greenish in color. Stalked buds with 2 scales. Distinctive green bark with vertical white stripes. Flowers yellow-green in pendulous terminal racemes.

Notes

Flowers May to June and fruits June to September

Wetland indicator: Facultative Upland

Also called moosewood. Regarded by foresters as a 'weed' tree that inhibits regeneration of more desirable woody species. The stems of this tree are quite flexible even in older specimens and the bark peels off easily in the spring. Fall color sometimes a clear yellow.

References

Dirr, Michael A. 1998. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses.
5th ed. Champaign, Illiois: Stipes Publishing L.L.C.

 

Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.

 

USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov).
National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA

 


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© Michael Hough 2004