Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum · Sapindaceae (Soapberry family, commonly referred to as the Maple family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Palmately lobed with 5 distinct lobes and U-shaped sinuses between them
Margin
Entire to sparsely toothed with smooth margins along the main lobes
Arrangement
Opposite
Venation
Palmate venation with five primary veins radiating from the base of the leaf blade, prominent midribs, and a fine reticulate network
Key Features
Opposite leaf arrangement, 5-lobed leaves with shallow, rounded (U-shaped) sinuses, smooth margins, and clear sap rather than milky sap
Description
The Sugar Maple is a magnificent deciduous tree renowned for its brilliant autumn foliage ranging from yellow to vibrant orange and red. It features dark gray, deeply furrowed bark on mature trunks, small greenish-yellow flowers in spring, and paired winged samaras known as helicopters in autumn.
Habitat
Rich, moist, well-drained upland soils in deciduous and mixed hardwood forests, thriving in partial to full sun
Native Range
Native to northeastern and midwestern North America, extending from Nova Scotia west to Ontario, and south to Georgia and Texas