Identify the Maples

Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as Maple. Maples are classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae. There are approximately 125 species worldwide. The word Acer is derived from a Latin word meaning "sharp" and referring to the characteristic points on the leaves. The maple tree is the national arboreal emblem of Canada.

The Common North American Maple Species

• sugar
• red
• silver
• boxelder
• bigleaf

Dormant Identification:
Maple has paired winged key seeds; has red buds and new red stems on red maple; has bark that is generally gray but variable in form; has crescent shaped leaf scar with three bundle scars; has terminal bud that is egg-shaped and slightly larger than lateral buds; has stipule scars absent; has opposite leaf and twigs.
Leaves: opposite , simple or compound, palmately lobed.
Fruit: a double samara.

ash | beech | basswood | birch | black cherry | black walnut/butternut | cottonwood | elm | hackberry | hickory | holly | locust | magnolia | maple | oak | poplar | red alder | royal paulownia | sassafras | sweetgum | sycamore | tupelo | willow | yellow-poplar

ID Glossary