Acer platanoides (ay’sir plat-a-noy’-deez)
Family: Sapindaceae, Soapberry
Key Steps
- 1a – Opposite leaf arrangement on stem — go to 2
- 2a – Leaf simple — go to 3
- 3a – Leaves are lobed — go to 4
- 4a – Milky sap is visible when fresh petiole is broken at base of petiole — go to Norway Maple
- 3a – Leaves are lobed — go to 4
- 2a – Leaf simple — go to 3
Description
Leaf: Usually 5-lobed, blade as wise as it is long, 4-7 inches, dark green. Lobes are sharply pointed, coarsely toothed. Milky sap visible when fresh petiole is removed from stem. Hair in corners of veins beneath.
Bud: Large rounded terminal bud, purplish-brown, 4+ overlapping bud scales. Lateral (side) buds have 2-3 scales.
Leaf Scar: Edges of leaf scars meet around the stem, forming a right angle.
Stem: Stout, smooth, brownish.
Bark: Close, tight ridges.
Pith: Solid, white.
Flower: Inconspicuous, greenish-yellow; blooming profusely in April before leaves appear.
Fruit: Samara. Wings spread out completely to make a straight line, like a mustache.
Habit: Large, dense, shade tree. Spreading branches. Broad, round canopy. 40 feet tall by 30 feet wide.
Culture: Moderate soil moisture. Full sun. Good lawn tree. Leaves scorch with restricted root spread.
Cultivar Notes: The cultivars ‘Schwedleri’ and ‘Deborah’ are even darker green in summer, but start out purplish-red for 2-4 weeks in early spring. ‘Royal Red’ has maroon foliage all season. ‘Columnar’ is 50 feet high but only 20 feet or less wide, very columnar.
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