Acer negundo (ae’-sir ne’gun’-doe)
Family: Sapindaceae, Soapberry
Key Steps
- 1a – Opposite leaf arrangement on stem — go to 2
Description
Leaf: Usually 3-5 leaflets, rarely 7-9. Coarsely toothed and/or lobed. Odor when crushed.
Bud: White, hairy. Terminal bud present. 4+ exposed scales.
Leaf Scar: Scars meet across the stem at sharp angles. May have tiny red glands above.
Stem: Greenish-purple, smooth, hairless but sometime white “powder” on new growth. Powder rubs off. Stem smells bad when bruised. Raised lenticles.
Bark: Smooth, light gray-brown. Narrow vertical furrows.
Pith: Large, white, solid.
Flower: Yellowish-green, before leaves appear. Tree dioecious (either male, seedless; or female, seeds).
Fruit: Double samaras hang in clusters all year on female trees.
Habit: Messy form and seeds. Can be multi-stemmed. Irregular branching. Short-lived. Very fast growing, therefore weak branching structure prone to storm damage.
Culture: Adaptable. Moderate moisture requirements.
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