Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum · Sapindaceae (Soapberry family, traditionally placed in Aceraceae)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Palmately lobed with 5 distinct lobes and deep, rounded sinuses
Margin
Serrate with large, coarse teeth along the lobes
Arrangement
Opposite arrangement on the twig
Venation
Palmate venation with five primary veins radiating from the base of the petiole
Key Features
Opposite leaf arrangement, 5-lobed leaves with smooth (not finely toothed) sinuses between the lobes, and hard woody samaras
Description
The Sugar Maple is a majestic deciduous tree renowned for its brilliant autumn foliage ranging from bright yellow to vibrant orange and fiery red. It features dark grey furrowed bark, small greenish-yellow spring flowers, and paired winged seeds known as samaras.
Habitat
Rich, well-drained upland soils in deciduous and mixed forests, thriving in moist conditions and partial to full sun
Native Range
Native to eastern and northeastern North America, stretching from southern Canada down through the northern and eastern United States