Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum · Sapindaceae (Soapberry family, which includes the maple subfamily)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Deeply five-lobed, palmately lobed leaf with sharply toothed margins and a cordate base
Margin
Serrate to doubly serrate with deeply cut sinuses
Arrangement
Opposite arrangement along the woody stem
Venation
Palmate venation with five primary veins radiating from the base, featuring prominent midribs for each lobe
Key Features
Deeply cleft sinuses between the lobes that reach more than halfway to the center, combined with the strongly contrasting silvery-white underside of the leaf
Description
The silver maple is a fast-growing, medium to large deciduous tree known for its deeply cut leaves that flash a brilliant silvery white in the wind. It features a spreading crown, grayish flaky bark on mature trunks, and produces winged samaras in early spring.
Habitat
Typically found along riverbanks, floodplains, wet bottomlands, and poorly drained soils, though it adapts well to urban environments
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, stretching from Quebec down to Florida, and west to Minnesota and Texas