Acer saccharinum

Acer saccharinum

Acer saccharinum tree

Acer saccharinum, commonly known as the silver maple, is a species of maple native to eastern and central North America. It is one of the most common trees in the United States and is widely planted as an ornamental tree due to its rapid growth and attractive appearance.

Description

Silver maple leaf

Acer saccharinum is a large, deciduous tree that can grow to a height of 15–25 meters (50–80 feet), with a trunk diameter of 0.5–1 meter (1.5–3 feet). The leaves are palmate, deeply lobed, and have a distinctive silvery underside, which gives the tree its common name. The leaves are typically 8–16 cm long and wide, with five lobes.

The bark of the silver maple is smooth and gray on young trees, becoming shaggy and furrowed with age. The twigs are slender and reddish-brown, with a distinctive odor when crushed.

Reproduction

Female flowers of Acer saccharinum

Silver maples are dioecious, meaning that individual trees are either male or female. The flowers are produced in early spring before the leaves appear. Male and female flowers are borne on separate trees, with the female flowers developing into winged samaras (commonly known as "helicopters") that mature in late spring.

Habitat and Distribution

Acer saccharinum is native to the eastern and central regions of North America, from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota, and south to Florida and Oklahoma. It is commonly found in riparian areas, floodplains, and other wetland habitats, where it often forms pure stands.

Uses

Silver maple is valued for its rapid growth and adaptability to a wide range of soil conditions. It is commonly planted as a shade tree in urban and suburban areas. The wood of Acer saccharinum is soft and not as strong as that of other maples, but it is used for making furniture, boxes, and other products.

Gallery

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  Silver maple twig
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  Silver maple bark
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  Silver maple samaras
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  Silver maple foliage in autumn

Related pages

• Maple
• Acer (genus)
• Deciduous trees
• Riparian zone

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  Silber-Ahorn (Acer saccharinum)
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  Silver Maple Twig
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  Silver Maple Bark
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  Silver Maple Leaf
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  Soft Maple Helicopter
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  Acer saccharinum Female Flowers
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  Silver Maple Foliage During Autumn