Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)

Form

Height up to 100 feet, diameter 3 feet or more; trunk usually short, divided into a number of long ascending limbs which are again divided; their small branches droop, but turn upward at tips, forming large, spreading round crowns.

Bark

On young trees or branches, smooth and varies in color from reddish to a yellowish-gray; on old branches, dark gray and broken into long flakes or scales.

Leaf

Opposite; 3 to 5 lobes ending in long points separated by deep, angular openings; margins toothed; pale green on upper surface and silvery underneath; buds rounded and red or reddish brown.

Fruit

A pair of winged samaras; wings 1 to 2 inches long; samaras on slender, flexible, thread-like stems about 1 inch long. Mature in spring, and germinate immediately.

Range

Common tree on river bottoms or other deep, moist soils in the southern 2/3 of the state.

Wood

Light-brown, strong, fairly hard, even texture, rather brittle, easily worked; decays readily when exposed to weather or soil; occasionally used for flooring, furniture and fuel; often mixed with red maple for commercial purposes.

Notes

Popular as a shade tree, but branches are apt to be broken in storms.