Acer rubrum L.
Red maple, swamp maple, soft maple
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Rosidae Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order Sapindales Includes citrus; maples, horse-chestnuts, lychees and rambutans; mangos and cashews; frankincense and myrrh; mahogany and neem
Family Sapindaceae Soapberry family
Genus Acer Maples
Species rubrum Red: red maples have red flowers and predominantly red leaves in the fall
About plant names...
Red maple, named for its bright red fall foliage, is a widespread North American native tree.
Identification: The three-tipped leaves distinguish these
trees from other maples. Moose maples have somewhat similar leaves, but they are larger and rounded on the
bottom. Leaves are bright red to orange-red in the fall.
Trees are up to 90′ (27 m) high, and up to 2½′ (76 cm) in diameter.
The crown is more conical in shape at first, becoming more oval-shaped as the tree matures.
Smooth pale gray bark becomes somewhat scaly and raised as the tree ages. Leaves are 3½-4½″ (8.9-11 cm) long, and
about the same in width. Flowers are red. Fruits are two-winged samaras ; each wing is ½-⅞″ (1.5-2.5 cm) long. They form an angle of 50-60°.
Edibility: Poisonous Red maple is very toxic to horses, causing some
deaths. Presumably they are unsafe for people as well.
Online References:
Earl J.S. Rook's Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky ...
The Natural History of the Northwoods
The Ohio State University PLANTFacts database
Wikipedia
Plantdatabase.uconn.edu
Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Plants.ces.ncsu.edu
A guess · 4/3/2011 · Susan & Raimond’s, Phoenix, Maryland · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)
4/20/2017 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm)
4/15/2021 · Brunswick Town Commons, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 4 × 2½″ (11 × 7.3 cm)
4/11/2015 · Kirby Storter Park Boardwalk, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 11 × 7″ (28 × 18 cm)
4/13/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)
5/27/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)
10/31/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)
5/13/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm)
10/31/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)
5/27/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain
5/4/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
10/3/2008 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
3/21/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)
4/11/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)
9/28/2011 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Massachusetts
5/4/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
5/2/2023 · Brunswick Town Commons, Brunswick, Maine
Older scientific or horticultural names
Acer barbatum Michx. p.p.
Acer rubrum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 6 May 2023.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
4/11/2015 · Big Cypress Bend, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Florida · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (47 × 31 cm)
The eyespot galls are Cecidomyia ocellaris · 6/1/2014 · Oak Hill, Littleton, Massachusetts · ≈ 10 × 7″ (25 × 16 cm)
4/8/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 2½″ (9.8 × 6.6 cm) ID is uncertain
5/2/2023 · Brunswick Town Commons, Brunswick, Maine
10/7/2012 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)
5/4/2017 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)
4/11/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 2½″ (9.8 × 6.6 cm)
5/4/2017 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 14 cm)
5/13/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm)
5/13/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts
Flowers appear prior to any leaves. · 4/7/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 2½″ (9.8 × 6.6 cm) ID is uncertain
4/20/2017 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)
A guess · 4/3/2011 · Susan & Raimond’s, Phoenix, Maryland · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
The eyespot galls are Cecidomyia ocellaris · 6/1/2014 · Oak Hill, Littleton, Massachusetts · ≈ 10 × 7″ (25 × 16 cm)
5/2/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)
The eyespot galls are Cecidomyia ocellaris · 6/4/2021 · Robert P. Tristram Coffin Wild Flower Reservation, Woolwich, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.5 cm)
9/25/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)
5/2/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)
8/9/2012 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Big Tree Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire
Range:
About this map...
Home   
Species