Red Maple
Acer rubrum · Sapindaceae (Soapberry family, traditionally placed in Aceraceae)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Palmate lobed shape with three primary shallow lobes and acute tips
Margin
Serrate or sharply toothed edges along the lobes
Arrangement
Opposite arrangement on the stem
Venation
Palmate venation with prominent primary veins radiating from the base and a well-defined central midrib
Key Features
Opposite leaf arrangement, simple leaves with 3 to 5 shallow lobes with serrated margins, V-shaped sinuses between lobes, and reddish leaf stalks (petioles)
Description
Acer rubrum, commonly known as the Red Maple, is one of the most abundant and widespread deciduous trees in eastern North America. Recognized for its stunning red seasonal transformation, it features attractive gray bark, small reddish flowers that appear in early spring before the leaves, and characteristic winged pair fruits known as samaras. It is a favored landscape tree due to its adaptability and year-round visual interest.
Habitat
Thrives in a wide variety of sites from swampy, wet bottomlands and floodplains to dry upland ridges, showing great adaptability to different soil moisture levels
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, stretching from eastern Texas and Minnesota eastward to the Atlantic coast, and from Newfoundland down to Florida