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
Palmate with five distinct lobes
Margin
Entire to sparsely toothed along the lobes with deep, U-shaped sinuses
Arrangement
Opposite
Venation
Palmate venation originating from the base with prominent yellowish-green veins
Key Features
Five-lobed leaves with smooth edges and rounded (U-shaped) sinuses between the lobes, paired opposite twigs, and brown sharp-pointed winter buds.
Description
The Sugar Maple is a magnificent deciduous tree renowned for its brilliant autumn foliage and for being the primary source of maple syrup. It features a dense, rounded crown, dark grey bark that becomes furrowed with age, and distinctively lobed leaves that turn breathtaking shades of orange, red, and yellow in the fall.
Habitat
Rich, moist, well-drained soils in deciduous and mixed hardwood forests
Native Range
Native to northeastern and north-central North America, extending from Nova Scotia west to Ontario, and south to Georgia and Texas.