Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum · Sapindaceae (Soapberry family, traditionally included in Aceraceae)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Palmately lobed with 5 primary lobes
Margin
Entire to sparsely coarsely dentate with U-shaped sinuses between lobes
Arrangement
Opposite
Venation
Palmate venation
Key Features
Opposite leaf arrangement, 5-lobed leaves with U-shaped sinuses, smooth margins on the lobes, and hard brown twigs with sharp, brown buds
Description
A classic medium to large deciduous tree famed for its dense canopy, hard wood, and stunning fall foliage display. The leaves are deeply lobed with smooth sinuses, providing heavy shade during the summer months before transforming into vivid autumn spectacles.
Habitat
Rich, moist, well-drained upland soils in deciduous and mixed forests
Native Range
Native to eastern and northeastern North America, from southern Canada down to the northern edge of the American South