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Acer saccharinum - (image 1 of 6)

Taxonomy

Family: Aceraceae

Habitat

Characteristic of floodplains. Also along the margin of ponds and rivers.

Associates

Woody associates include Acer negundo, Celtis occidentalis, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Salix nigra, Betula nigra and Ulmus americana.

Distribution

Southern Ontario east to New Brunswick, south to northwest FL and west to eastern OK.

Morphology

Leaves deeply, palmately 5-lobed with many course teeth; green above and silvery pubescent below. Buds reddish and blunt. Bark smooth gray when young, becoming course and exfoliating when older. Height to 80 feet.

Notes

Flowers early March to April

Wetland Indicator: Facultative Wetland

A fast growing and weak-wooded tree. A poor choice for parking lots for that reason and the tendency of this tree to harbor aphids. The aphids produce honeydew which then leads to sooty mold fungus. The fall color ranges from green to bright yellow. Very tolerant of flooding.

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.

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

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

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