Acer rubrum - red maple
Acer rubrum behind Old Main (2003),
Acer rubrum in front of Eberly Sci./Tech. (2003)
Family: Aceraceae
Range: One of
the most widely distributed trees in eastern North America and is found in a
majority of the deciduous forests of the
eastern U.S. Additional information may be found at the following website:
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/acer/rubrum.htm
Habitat: Ability
to grow on a variety of wet or dry sites in dense woods and clearings where it
dominants many forest types. It is present both
in swamps and on dry ridge tops. It occurs in over half of the forest types
in the eastern U. S. as either an associate or dominant tree.
Origin: Native to the United States.
Lifespan: Maximum: 150 years, (although 300 yrs
old has been reported).
Size: 50 to 70 ft. tall, 25 to 45 ft. wide.
Reproduction: Monoecious; having male and
female flowers on separate branches;
produces a double winged samara. Also has the
ability of vegetative reproduction via sprouts from established root
systems.
Common Uses:
The soft, close-grained, wood is often used for
furniture, veneer,
cabinetry,
plywood, barrels, crates, flooring, and at one time even railroad ties
however, it is often regarded as a poor timber species. Its sap is
comparable to that of sugar and black maple for making syrup.
I
nteresting Facts:
Trees 12" in diameter may produce nearly 1
million seeds, of which are among
the lightest of all other maple fruits. This is
one of the first trees to show fall color. The partially wilted leaves
are poisonous to livestock, especially horses.
Fact Sheet for this species at Virginia Tech's dendrology website
