what is the classification of a maple tree

What class does a maple tree belong?

Maple, ( Acer ), any of a large genus (about 200 species) of shrubs or trees in the family Sapindaceae, widely distributed in the North Temperate Zone but concentrated in China. Maples constitute one of the most important groups of ornamentals for planting in lawns, along streets, and in parks.

How do you identify types of maple trees?

• These trees grow 50 to 70 feet (15-21.5 m.) tall with canopies that are 35 to 50 feet (10.5-15 m.) wide
• The dark green leaves are silvery underneath and appear to glimmer in the wind
• Their shallow roots buckle sidewalks and foundations, making it nearly impossible to grow grass under the canopy

Is Maple considered a tropical tree or Redwood?

Native to eastern North America and growing from the oceans to the prairies, red maple has the widest north-to-south native range of all other trees on the East Coast. With varieties in either full rounded or upright forms, red maple trees have a high canopy that allows you to see its branch structure.

How do you identify a maple tree?

• Leaf appearance and growth: Most types of elm trees have round leaves with serrated edges. ...
• Samaras: These are a type of fruit that certain trees produce to spread seeds, which are enclosed in papery tissue. ...
• Canopy: The canopies of elm trees are easy to spot, due to their size and density. ...

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How many types of maple trees are there?

Maple Trees Facts. The ornamental maple tree provides stunning autumn color and there are many types to suit every garden. There are about 128 species of maple trees in the Acer plant genus. The two most common maples are the sugar maple ( Acer saccharum) and the red maple ( Acer rubrum ).

What color are maple trees?

Maple trees have dark brown furrowed bark, small, winged fruits, and narrow reddish-brown twigs. Maple trees commonly have green lobed leaves that change their color to red, yellow, orange, and dark burgundy in the fall . The most identifiable feature of maple trees is their lobed leaves.

What color are the leaves on a red maple tree?

Red maple trees have light-green leaves with a silvery underside. The leaves have three or five lobes with serrated edges. Red maple leaves don’t have deep indentations between the lobes like sugar maple trees. Red maples have pale gray bark that is thinner than sugar maples. The leaves turn deep red in the fall.

What is the difference between a sugar maple and a red maple?

Sugar maple trees have leaves with smooth margins while red maple trees have leaves with serrated edges. The indentation between the lobes of sugar maple leaves is U shaped with a rounded base while the red maple trees have leaves with V shaped indentations. Here are more details about sugar maple and red maple trees:

What is the largest maple tree in the world?

Bigleaf maple trees are native to North America and have the largest leaves on any maple species. Also called the Oregon maple, this giant tree grows up to 158 ft. (48 m) tall. The dark green foliage grows as a broad-rounded crown. Bigleaf maples thrive in zones 6 and 7.

How many lobes does a sugar maple tree have?

Sugar maple trees have 5-lobed leaves (3 large lobes and 2 small lobes). The space between the five pointed lobes of sugar maple leaves is U-shaped with a rounded base. The leaves of sugar maple trees are up to 8” (20 cm) long and wide. Red maple trees have light-green leaves with a silvery underside.

How tall do maple trees get?

The most identifiable feature of maple trees is their lobed leaves. Maples trees grow up to 150 ft. (45 m) tall. Maple trees are flowering trees belonging to the genus Acer and the family Sapindaceae. Maples are closely related to horse chestnut trees.

What are the root systems of maple trees?

Many of the root systems are typically dense and fibrous, inhibiting the growth of other vegetation underneath them. A few species, notably Acer cappadocicum, frequently produce root sprouts, which can develop into clonal colonies. Acer circinatum (vine maple) leaves showing the palmate veining typical of most species.

How many maple trees are there in Canada?

There are 10 species naturally growing in the country, with at least one in each province. Although the idea of the tree as a national symbol originally hailed from the province of Quebec where the sugar maple is significant, today's arboreal emblem of Canada rather refers to a generic maple.

What do maple leaves do?

In high concentrations, caterpillars, like the greenstriped mapleworm ( Dryocampa rubicunda ), can feed on the leaves so much that they cause temporary defoliation of host maple trees.

What is the most common maple in Europe?

The type species of the genus is the sycamore maple, Acer pseudoplatanus, the most common maple species in Europe. The maples usually have easily recognizable palmate leaves ( Acer negundo is an exception) and distinctive winged fruits. The closest relatives of the maples are the horse chestnuts.

How tall do maple trees grow?

Most maples are trees growing to a height of 10–45 m (33–148 ft). Others are shrubs less than 10 meters tall with a number of small trunks originating at ground level. Most species are deciduous, and many are renowned for their autumn leaf colour, but a few in southern Asia and the Mediterranean region are evergreen. Most are shade-tolerant when young and are often riparian, understory, or pioneer species rather than climax overstory trees. There are a few exceptions such as sugar maple. Many of the root systems are typically dense and fibrous, inhibiting the growth of other vegetation underneath them. A few species, notably Acer cappadocicum, frequently produce root sprouts, which can develop into clonal colonies.

What is the cause of the destruction of maple trees?

Infestations of the Asian long-horned beetle ( Anoplophora glabripennis) have resulted in the destruction of thousands of maples and other tree species in Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio in the United States and Ontario, Canada. Maples are affected by a number of fungal diseases.

How many veins does maple have?

Maples are distinguished by opposite leaf arrangement. The leaves in most species are palmate veined and lobed, with 3 to 9 (rarely to 13) veins each leading to a lobe, one of which is central or apical. A small number of species differ in having palmate compound, pinnate compound, pinnate veined or unlobed leaves.

What is the difference between a maple tree and a black maple?

One distinction between the two maple tree types is the rate of growth. Hard maples grow very slowly and live a long time. These trees are important to the lumber industry and include black maples and sugar maples, known for their superior quality syrup. All maples have leaves divided into three, five, or seven lobes.

What is the Acer Maple tree?

Types of Acer Maple Trees. Maple trees are members of the genus Acer, which includes a lot of variety in size, shape, color, and growth habit. With all of the variations, it’s hard to pinpoint a few obvious features that make a tree a maple.

How tall do Acer maple trees grow?

Here are a few distinguishing characteristics of some of the more common types of Acer maple trees: Japanese Maple ( Acer palmatum) Highly ornamental trees, Japanese maples may only grow to 6 to 8 feet (2-2.5 m.) in cultivation, but can reach heights of 40 to 50 feet (12-15 m.) in the wild. Brilliant fall color.

How many lobes does a maple tree have?

All maples have leaves divided into three, five, or seven lobes. The lobes on some maples are mere indentations in the leaves, while others have lobes so deeply divided that a single leaf can look like a cluster of individual, thin leaves. Hard maples usually have leaves with moderate indentations.

What is soft maple?

Soft maples include a wide variety of trees, such as red and silver maples. Their rapid growth results in a soft wood. Landscapers use these trees to get quick results, but they may become a problem in the landscape as they age.

How tall is a spruce tree?

These trees grow 50 to 70 feet (15-21.5 m.) tall with canopies that are 35 to 50 feet (10.5-15 m.) wide. This large tree grows 50 to 80 feet (15-24.5 m.) tall with a dense canopy that spreads 35 to 50 feet (10.5-15 m.) wide.

1. Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

The Sugar Maple is probably the most valuable and popular of the genus Acer that includes these trees. There’s the syrup, of course. The lumber is also vital for a variety of products, from fine woodworking to baseball bats to guitars. It is native to various provinces in Canada, south into Missouri and Virginia.

2. Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)

The Silver Maple gets its name from the lighter color of the undersides of its leaves that resemble this color. While it also produces sap, it isn’t nearly as sweet as our previous example. It’s also not as valuable since the wood is sometimes brittle. Hence, its other moniker, soft maple.

3. Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

As you may expect, the Japanese Maple isn’t native to the United States. Instead, it was introduced. Horticulturalists have selectively bred it for various ornamental cultivars. Probably no other species has seen so many variations, with over 1,000 cultivars grown around the world. It is even a popular bonsai variety.

4. Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)

The Norway Maple is a Eurasian species that was introduced to the United States in the mid-1700s. While it is a striking ornamental tree, it is also invasive. It is a pioneer species, which means it can inhabit bare ground before other plants. The tree is also fast-growing. That’s good news if you want shade.

5. Striped Maple (Acer pensylvanicum)

The Striped Maple lives primarily on the East Coast, up into Canada. It isn’t as tall as others on our list, only reaching heights up to 15 feet. It has some commercial use for wood making. Wildlife also benefits from its presence in the forest. That can explain one of its many nicknames, Moose Maple.

6. Rocky Mountain Maple (Acer glabrum)

As its name suggests, the Rocky Mountain Maple is a western species of this habitat in the United States and up into Canada. It is not a large tree, only getting up to 30 feet. A lot is unknown about it because of its remote habitat. However, it is an important wildlife species.

7. Trident Maple (Acer buergerianum)

The Trident Maple exists as an introduced species in the United States. It is widespread in this regard, both here and abroad. However, its native range is in China and into Japan, where it is also a bonsai plant. Like many species in this genus, the Trident Maple has a prominent place in traditional Chinese medicine.

Overview

Uses

Fossil record

Morphology

Pests and diseases

Cultural significance

See also