Rocky Mountain Maple
Acer glabrum · Sapindaceae (Soapberry and Maple family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Palmately lobed with typically 3 to 5 lobes, ovate to round in general outline
Margin
Serrate to doubly serrate with sharp, coarse teeth
Arrangement
Opposite
Venation
Palmate venation with prominent veins radiating from the base
Key Features
Opposite leaf arrangement, palmately lobed leaves with sharply serrate margins, and smooth red-tinted twigs
Description
A charming small deciduous tree or large multi-stemmed shrub. The bark is smooth and greyish-brown on young stems, turning slightly fissured with age. It produces small greenish-yellow flowers in spring followed by paired winged samaras, and puts on a lovely golden-yellow display in the fall.
Habitat
Mountain slopes, canyons, stream banks, and mixed conifer forests at moderate to high elevations
Native Range
Native to western North America, ranging from Alaska down through British Columbia, through the Rocky Mountain states including Colorado, and into the southwestern United States
Notes
Aspen, co, fall