Red Maple

Species and Common name: Acer rubrum and Red Maple

Physical appearance: It is a tall slender tree, with red fire like leaves. The bark is smooth and feels almost like paper. The leaves are deeply lobes and single.

History and origin: Cultivation of the first Acer rubrum or red maple tree happened in 1656. During the last ice age, the red maple tree receded into the eastern portions of North America. The red maple is the most common deciduous tree in the eastern United States.

Bloom time: March and April. Males have decorative blooms.

Geographic range: Found in 34 states and Canada.

Habitat type: High water usage, Needs shade, not drought tolerant, heat and cold tolerant, grows best in moist, slightly acidic soils. This tree is native to Georgia.

Ecological importance: By invading sites in all kinds of conditions -- sunny or shady, high or low nutrients, dry or moist -- red maple really is an ecological marvel.

Environmental or economic uses: The white, fine-grained wood is used for furniture, flooring, cabinetry, paneling, veneer, musical instruments, tool handles, cutting boards, butcher blocks, wooden bowls, boxes and crates, and many other uses. Red maple is an excellent wood for fuel and is also used for saw timber and pulpwood. The sap of red maple is sometimes used for producing maple syrup.Native Americans used red maple bark as an analgesic, wash for inflamed eyes and cataracts, and as a remedy for hives and muscular aches.

 

Fun facts:

Branching: opposite

*Bark:

* Twigs and buds are reddish in color. * Younger trees are smooth and light gray. * Older trees have long, narrow, scaly plates with shallow fissures.

*Height: medium sized tree 50 to 70 ft.

*Trunk Diameter: 12 to 24 in.

*Longevity: maturity reached at 70 to 80 yrs. (may attain an age of 150 yrs.)

*red leaf Tolerance: intermediate

*Range: eastern U.S.

* Kingdom Plantae

*Division Magnoliophyta

*Class Magnoliopsida

*Order Cornales

*Family Cornaceae

*Genus Cornus

 

 

References:

a) www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new...

b) www.ehow.com/facts_7284567_red-maple-tree-history.html

c) www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ACRU

d) www.caes.uga.edu/Publications/displayHTML.cfm?pk_id=7763

e) www.canr.uconn.edu/ces/forest/redmaple.htm

f) plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_acru.pdf

g) ostermiller.org/tree/redmaple.html

h) www.theflowerexpert.com/content/growingflowers/flowersand...

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Uploaded on November 12, 2010
Taken on January 17, 2000