Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), also called broadleaf maple or Oregon maple, is one of the few commercial hardwood tree species on the Pacific Coast. It is small compared with its conifer associates. Bigleaf maple is an excellent shade tree. The wood is used for furniture, especially piano frames, and the sap can be made into syrup.
1. The Silviculture of Bigleaf Maple
R. Merrilees, Illustrator
Bigleaf maple is an excellent shade tree. Its wood is used in the furniture industry, but it is neither as hard nor as strong as the wood of sugar maple (Acer saccharum). Like sugar maple, it has sweet sap that can be made into syrup. Bigleaf maple is a preferred wood for piano frames. It is excellent for decorative face veneer and makes good container material but is not suitable for flooring. The amounts of bigleaf maple being marketed for fuelwood are increasing as the use of wood stoves increases. Bigleaf maple is usually harvested in conifer stands along with the conifers. These trees generally originate from sprouts and are of poor quality.
2. The Images of Bigleaf Maple
Joe Nicholson/Bugwood.org
Forestryimages.org provides several images of parts of bigleaf maple. The tree is a hardwood and the lineal taxonomy is Magnoliopsida > Sapindales > Aceraceae > Acer macrophyllum Pursh. Bigleaf maple is also commonly called broadleaf maple or Oregon maple.
3. The Range of Bigleaf Maple
The native range of bigleaf maple extends from latitude 33° to 51° N., always within 186 miles of the Pacific Ocean. This maple is not found in southeastern Alaska or on the Queen Charlotte Islands, but it does grow on Vancouver Island at least as far north as Port Hardy.
4. Bigleaf Maple at Virginia Tech
Leaf: Opposite, simple, deciduous, 6 to 12 inches in diameter, but sometimes larger; palmately lobed with 5 deep lobes, terminal lobe has a distinct waist; dark green above and lighter green below. Petiole exudes a milky sap.Twig: Stout, smooth, round, and pale green, turning bright green or red, then grayish brown; buds opposite, terminal bud large, stout, with 3 or 4 greenish red scales.
