Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum · Sapindaceae (Soapberry family, traditionally placed in Aceraceae)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Palmate with 5 lobes, deeply indented sinuses
Margin
Entire to sparsely and coarsely toothed margins with pointed lobe tips
Arrangement
Opposite
Venation
Palmate venation with five primary veins radiating from the base
Key Features
Opposite leaf arrangement, 5-lobed leaves with deep U-shaped sinuses, smooth margins on the lobes, and hard gray bark with furrowed plates on mature trees
Description
The Sugar Maple is a magnificent deciduous tree renowned for its brilliant fall foliage and as the primary source of maple syrup. The leaves feature distinct palmate lobes with smooth margins, turning breathtaking shades of yellow, burnt orange, and red in autumn.
Habitat
Thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soils of deciduous forests, hillsides, and valleys; moderate to high shade tolerance when young
Native Range
Native to hardwood forests of northeastern and north-central North America, extending south to the higher elevations of the southern Appalachians