The sugar maple (Acer saccharum) (hard maple, rock maple) is one of our largest and finest forest trees, growing to a height of 80 feet with a diameter of two or more feet. Sugar sand or niter is the salt that precipitates during the evaporation process. Birches have pores wider than the rays. Its rapid growth and ability to thrive on a wide variety of sites have resulted in its widespread planting as ornamental and street trees which are often tapped as part of a sugaring operation. The fruits are paired samaras. Susceptible to leaf scorch, verticillium wilt, tar spot and anthracnose. Because sugar and black maple resume growth later than red or silver maple, sap may be collected later in the spring. margin. On good sites with little competition from other trees, silver maple diameter growth may approach 1/2 inch per year (rates as high as 1 inch per year have been recorded). The way to tell Red Maple and Sugar Maple apart is by the bark. Black maple, on the other hand, occupies a much smaller natural range (Figure 3.7). Photo © Yann Kemper, Public Domain. To do this, begin by counting lobes of leaves. There only slight overlap in habitat: silver maple usually grows closer to water and sugar maple on well-drained sites. Sugar Maple Tree Identification Sugar maple trees can grow to be 100 feet tall. The leaves of sugar maple trees are up to 8â (20 cm) long and wide. Introduction: Sugar maple, with its beautiful form and brilliant, multicolored display of fall color, is a popular shade tree in eastern North America.It is known for its quality wood and abundant sugar. Twigs are smooth and reddish-brown with sharp-pointed winter buds. It is not unusual to find many trees in a sugar bush well in excess of 3 percent, and occasionally higher. The 3 most popular type of maple trees are Maple Sugar, Red maple and Japanese Maple. Red maple's bark is normally dark brown, whereas box elder and Norway maple bark is more grayish. Sugar maple or Acer saccharum. Silver Maple vs Sugar Maple. Sugar maple Leaf: 3 to 6" opposite, simple leaf with 3 to 5 lobes; excellent fall color - yellow, orange and red tones. Trees planted by colonial settlers survive to this day, often with large, gnarly trunks and deeply fissured bark. Its use as an ornamental and street tree, at least in urban areas, has been discontinued in recent years because the wood of silver maple is very brittle and often breaks in severe wind, snow or ice storms. ⦠First, the sap sugar content of red maple will be less, on the average, than that of nearby comparable sugar or black maples, perhaps by 1/2 percent or more. Identifying a tree as a red maple (Table 3.2, Figure 3.4) is done from the leaves by observing the 3 lobes (occasionally 5), the paired opposite arrangement of the leaves and the small teeth along the margin; from the bark of older trees by the presence of the scaly plates; from the twig by observing the paired opposite arrangement of the buds, the relatively short, blunt, rounded, red terminal bud and the lack of an offensive odor when the bark of the twig is bruised or scraped; and from the fruit by observing its severe V-shape and size. Silver and sugar maple are easy to tell apart by leaf, buds, and growth habit. Sugar maple trees have 5-lobed leaves (3 large lobes and 2 small lobes). Red maple is one of the most abundant and widespread hardwood trees in North America (Figure 3.8). Sugar Maple ( Acer saccharum) Lobes pointed, but leaf margins smooth (not serrated) between points, with U-shaped regions in larger spaces between lobe tips. Sugar and black maple both grow in the shade of other trees (they are shade tolerant), and trees of many different ages (sizes) are often found in a forest. Sugar maple leaves are three to five inches wide and have five lobes with a round base. East to the Appalachian Mountains. It has a dense crown of leaves, which turn various shades of gold to scarlet in fall.Its three- to five-lobed leaves appear after the greenish yellow flowers of spring. However, for sugaring, red maple does have three important weaknesses. Mature trees commonly average between 20 and 30 inches in diameter and 60 and 90 feet tall. You might be well accustomed to maple syrup, that has an extensive use in making desserts. Maple sugar, red maple have typically 5 lobes and Japanese maple between 5 to 7 lobes. This weekâs tree is easy to identify by its twig. Flower/Fruit: Small greenish yellow flowers in early spring. Because of its fast growth rate, however, mature trees can achieve diameters in excess of 3 feet and heights in excess of 100 feet. Distinguishing between them may be more of an academic exercise than one useful in sugar bush management because (1) they are essentially identical in quality as sugar trees, and (2) they often hybridize producing trees with a range of characteristics, making it difficult to clearly distinguish between them. Distinguishing between sugar and black maple is best done by comparing the leaf structure (particularly the number of lobes, droopiness and presence or absence of stipules along base of petiole) and by the degree of bumpiness of the twigs. Considerable red is seen in bark pattern as scales develop. The space between the five pointed lobes of sugar maple leaves is U-shaped with a rounded base. Sugar Maples & Insect Problems. Uses: Veneer, lumber, furniture, cabinets, flooring, pulp Sugar maple, (Acer saccharum), also called hard maple or rock maple, large tree in the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), native to eastern North America and widely grown as an ornamental and shade tree. Acer saccharum identification sugar maple tree branches Woody plants Jerry Jenkins, White Creek, N.Y. Silver maple is among the fastest growing hardwood species commonly planted in eastern North America, certainly the fastest growing maple. A stylized sugar maple leaf, which is Canada's ⦠Throughout much of the commercial maple region, however, most maple producers will not tap silver maple. There is a moderately deep U-shaped notch between the lobes. The tree produces a dense, round, compact crown when grown in the open and is used quite extensively as a shade or ornamental tree. Probably no other species of forest tree, certainly no hardwood, can thrive on a wider variety of soil types and sites. Other Common Names/Trade Names: Hard maple It is most easily identified by the opposite paired arrangement of its leaves and branches, its 3-lobed leaf with fine teeth on the margin, and striping on the branches and young trunks. Pests include borers and cottony maple scale. When compared to sugar, black and red maple, silver maple is a distinctly fourth choice for sugaring for several reasons. While the exact sap sugar content of a tree will vary depending on many factors including genetics, site and weather, sugar and black maples generally average between 2.0 and 2.5 percent sap sugar content. There are thirteen native maple species in North America (Table 3-1). [1] X Research source Black maple is more likely to be found along moist river bottoms. Sugar Maple Tree Identification. Red Maple Tree The sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is a common tree in northeastern North America, prized for its wood, its brilliant fall foliage and its sap for maple syrup in the spring. Red maple is commonly tapped in certain geographic areas, particularly in the southern and western portions of the commercial maple range. The sap of Norway maple is not commonly used to produce maple syrup. Means of Distinguishing Similar Species : Wood is typically lighter in color than red maple. Like the red maple, silver maple is a relatively short-lived tree when compared to the sugar or black maple, living perhaps. The sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is a common tree in northeastern North America, prized for its wood, its brilliant fall foliage and its sap for maple syrup in the spring.Like the white ash, the sugar maple is ⦠Mountain maple is essentially a shrub. Older trees developing furrows and ultimately long, irregular, thick vertical plates that appear to peal from the trunk in a vertical direction. The high sugar content of the Sugar Mapleâs sap makes it ideal for tapping. North through all of New England, southern Quebec and Ontario, and the Canadian Maritimes. East to the Appalachian Mountains. The leaf edge will not have any serrated teeth. Similar to red maple but bruised or scraped bark has a very fetid or foul odor. Unfortunately, the names of the two trees quickly became confused in the horticultural literature. The commercial production of maple products in North America occurs primarily in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada (Figure 3.1). One exotic maple, Norway maple (Acer platanoides), is commonly planted as an ornamental and street tree and will attain tapable size. The sugar content is 2x that of other maple trees in sugar maples which means less boiling down. Species. Sugar maple leaves will have a dark green color on the outside, and a lighter green on the underside. Maple trees are usually grown in gardens as landscaping plants, owing to their beauty and their extensive branching system. Under natural conditions, silver maple is primarily a bottomland and floodplain species, where it may occur in pure stands but is more commonly found associated with other bottom species such as American elm, sweetgum, pin oak, swamp white oak, eastern cottonwood, sycamore, and/or green ash. Naturalists lead maple-sugaring tours showing how to identify sugar maples, tap trees, and collect sap at this Mass Audubon property. sugar maple Aceraceae Acer saccharum Marshall symbol: ACSA3 Leaf: Opposite, simple and palmately veined, 3 to 6 inches long, 5 delicately rounded lobes, entire margin; green above, paler below. Scientific Name: Acer saccharum Sugar and black maple are particularly attractive as sugar trees because of their high sap sugar content and the late date at which they begin growth in the spring. Red Maple ( Acer rubrum) Buds conspicuous, plump, rounded, and red; side buds as large as terminal buds, and angled outward. Silver and sugar maple are easy to tell apart by leaf, buds, and growth habit. Best Characteristics for Identification: Rays wider than pores. 2-6 inches wide; 3lobed (occasionally weakly 5-lobed); sharply V-shaped sinuses; small sharp teeth along. Other popular varieties of maple trees for gardens are the Amur Maple (Acer ginnala), Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum), and the Hedge Maple tree (Acer campestre). In the fall, sugar maple leaves will lose their green color and take on a beautiful orange, yellow, or red. Identifying a silver maple (Table 3.2, Figure 3.5) is done from the leaves by observing the 5 lobes with the sides of the terminal lobe diverging toward the tip, the paired opposite arrangement of the leaves, the presence of fine teeth along the margin but not on the inner sides of the sinuses and the silvery white underside; from the bark of older trees by the trunk's shaggy appearance; from the twigs by observing the paired opposite arrangement of the buds, the relatively short blunt, rounded, red terminal bud and the presence of a fetid or foul odor when the twig is bruised or scraped; and from the fruit by observing its V-shape and size. Once you have established you tree is part of the Acer family, you need ⦠From the perspective of producing maple syrup, red maple's most attractive characteristic is its ability to thrive on a wide variety of site conditions. The sugar maples are found in almost all places in the United States. The leaf edge will not have any serrated teeth. The silhouette of the sugar maple leaf is the ⦠You will have to carry 2x as much sap from a regular maple as a sugar maple for the same amount of syrup. This lower sap sugar content translates to higher costs of production and lower profits. Both species can be found growing in pure stands, with each other, or with a wide variety of other hardwood species including American beech, American basswood, yellow birch, black cherry, northern red oak, yellow poplar and black walnut. This is the geographic area of greatest abundance of sugar maple ( Acer saccharum) and black maple ( Acer nigrum ), ⦠The leaves are lobed and the flowers are yellow. Once you have established you tree is part of the Acer family, you need to identify the right specie. Second, like red maple, it begins growth in the spring, earlier than sugar and black maple, resulting in a shorter collecting season. Other Common Names/Trade Names: Hard maple Scientific Name: Acer saccharum Best Characteristics for Identification: Rays wider than pores. Does not do well in a restricted root zone situation; tolerates shade better than most maples; leaf scorch may develop with drought; moderate pollution ⦠On young trees light gray to brown and somewhat smooth; on older trees gray to almost black with irregular plates or scales. The presence of the Sugar Maple leaf on the Canadian flag illustrates the importance of this tree in Canada. Other Species Easily Confused With: Red maple, bigleaf maple, birches Striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum) and mountain maple (Acer spicatum) are two other native maples that are found growing within the commercial maple range (Figures 3.10 and 3.11). East to the Appalachian Mountains. The black maple is a large, deciduous tree 60 to 80 ft in height with a dense, rounded crown and a straight trunk up to 4 ft in diameter. The leaves of the Sugar Maple usually have five squarish, shallow lobes. A somewhat shiny, brownish, slender, relatively smooth twig with. It is most easily identified by the opposite paired arrangement of its leaves and branches and its 3lobed leaf with coarse teeth. Maple Tree Identification. The two most common maples are the sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and the red maple (Acer rubrum). Both species are relatively long lived, capable of living well beyond 200 years, with trunk diameters greater than 30 inches and heights greater than 100 feet. Healthy sugar and black maple trees growing in overstocked uneven-aged or even-aged stands can be expected to achieve tapable size in 40 to 60 years, depending on overall site quality. Sugar sand can cause several problems during the production process. Look closely at the color of the leaves. Learn how to identify sugar maple trees to make maple syrup. Common North American Maple Species . It is recognized by the opposite paired arrangements of its leaves and branches, its 7lobed leaf without marginal teeth, and its 11/2 to 2 inch long samara with divergent wings (Figure 3.12). Identical or Nearly Identical Species: Black maple Suffers from salt, drought, and air pollution. Thinning or release cutting will substantially shorten the age-to-tapable-size. Striped maple is a small slender tree which rarely attains tapable size. Young trees up to 4-8 inches with smooth gray bark. 5-7 inches wide; deeply clefted; 5-lobed with the sides of the terminal lobe diverging toward the tip; light green upper surface and a silvery white underside; leaf margin with fine teeth (but not the inner edges of the sinuses). Silvery gray on young trees breaking into long thin scaly plates that give the trunks of older trees a very shaggy appearance. Uses: Veneer, lumber, furniture, cabinets, flooring, pulp General Natural Range: Minnesota south to Arkansas. This is a blog about tree branches: what they look like, how they develop, how they differ between species, and how you can use them to identify trees in winter. Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) is a deciduous tree known for brilliant fall colors and sap that is the primary source for maple syrup.For over 300 years, the Sugar Maple has played an important part in the diet of many Americans. Similar to sugar maple but twig surface with small warty growths (lenticels, which are not raised much above the bark surface in sugar maple) and often more hairy buds. Similar to sugar maple but usually darker and more deeply grooved or furrowed. The star of eastern North American fall foliage viewing and principle source of maple syrup. Four states have picked this tree as their state tree â New York, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Vermont â and it is also the national tree of Canada. Canada; The sugar maple tree may grow to a height of 40 metres (130 feet). Table 3-2 contains a descriptive comparison and Figures 3.2 through 3.5 illustrate characteristic leaves, bark, twigs, and fruits of sugar, black, red and silver maple. Mature leaves have a whitish appearingunderside. Winged seed approximately 1" long. Neither of these species is commonly tapped. The real difference is that the Red Maple has lighter and smoother bark then the Sugar Maple. In some areas of the commercial maple range, red maple is the only maple present on many sites. Sugar and black maple are very similar species and unquestionably the most preferred species for producing maple products, primarily because of their high sugar content. Furthermore, some maples produce a birdâs-eye or curly wood, which is high prized for its beauty. For this reason, it has been widely planted as an ornamental and street tree. Young trees up to 4-8 inches with a smooth light gray bark, developing into gray or black ridges and ultimately narrow scaly plates. 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