Sugar Maple (Rock Maple, Hard 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 primary lobes
Margin
Serrate with smooth-edged, rounded sinuses between the lobes
Arrangement
Opposite arrangement on the twig
Venation
Palmate venation with five primary veins radiating from the base, prominent midribs for each lobe
Key Features
Opposite leaf arrangement, palmately lobed leaves with U-shaped sinuses between the lobes, and smooth-edged sinuses distinguishing it from other maples like the Norway Maple
Description
The Sugar Maple is a majestic canopy tree renowned for its brilliant autumn foliage in shades of orange, red, and yellow. It features dark gray furrowed bark, hard wood, and produces winged samaras in the autumn.
Habitat
Rich, moist, well-drained soils in deciduous and mixed hardwood forests, thriving in partial to full sun
Native Range
Native to eastern and northeastern North America, ranging from Nova Scotia and Quebec west to Ontario, and south to Georgia and Texas