Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum · Sapindaceae (Maple family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Palmately lobed with 5 distinct lobes
Margin
Entire to sparsely toothed with U-shaped sinuses between lobes
Arrangement
Opposite
Venation
Palmate venation with five primary veins radiating from the base
Key Features
Opposite leaf arrangement, 5-lobed leaves with shallow, rounded (U-shaped) sinuses, and smooth margins on the lobes with sharp tips
Description
The Sugar Maple is a majestic deciduous tree renowned for its vibrant autumn foliage and as the primary source of maple syrup. It features a dense, rounded crown, dark grey furrowed bark, and distinctive opposite, palmately lobed leaves.
Habitat
Rich, moist, well-drained soils in deciduous and mixed forests
Native Range
Native to hardwood forests of eastern and central North America, extending from Nova Scotia west to Ontario, and south to Georgia and Texas