Maple

Maple, common name for a small family of trees, widespread in the temperate areas of the northern hemisphere, and for its representative genus. The family, which contains 2 genera and about 113 species, is recognized by its opposite leaves and small, radially symmetrical flowers in loose clusters. The flowers often lack petals. The ovary (female flower part) consists of two fused carpels (egg-bearing structures), which mature into two winged fruits. Maples are widely grown as ornamentals and street trees for their foliage and autumn colors. The species most commonly grown are medium to large deciduous trees with lobed “maple-shaped” leaves, such as the one depicted on the Canadian flag.

Commonly planted species are red maple, sugar maple, black maple, and Norway maple. All these are natives of North America and Europe. Many of the Asian species differ radically from their western relatives. Some are small trees or bushes, some are evergreen, and some have entire (unlobed) leaves. The box elder, a maple native to much of the United States, has compound leaves with three to five leaflets. In addition to their ornamental importance, maples are a source of good timber, especially sycamore maple, and of sugar or syrup, especially sugar maple. The other genus of the family contains two species that are found in China.

Scientific classification: Maples make up the family Aceraceae. The representative genus is Acer. The red maple is classified as Acer rubrum, the sugar maple as Acer saccharum, and the black maple as Acer nigrum (sometimes Acer saccharum nigrum). The Norway maple is classified as Acer platanoides, the box elder as Acer negundo, and the sycarmore maple as Acer pseudoplatanus. The other genus in the family is Dipteronia.