Acer pensylvanicum (striped maple)

Acer pensylvanicum L.

Striped maple, moosewood, moose 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	pensylvanicum	“From Pennsylvania”

About plant names...

Striped maple, a North American native, is so named because of the green and white vertical stripes on its trunk and branches.

Identification: This maple is a small tree, reaching heights of 16-33' (5-10 m). It may appear shrub-like in the forest, where it is often found as an understory plant. The bark is a smooth green on young plants or branches, with white vertical striations as the tree ages. Leaves are opposite, and 3-6" (8-15 cm) × 2-4½" (6-12 cm) in size. The leaves’ rounded bottom and three points are significantly different in appearance than other maple leaves. Flowers are greenish or yellowish, drooping racemes, which later become paired samaras.

Nearby plants are likely to include hobblebush, Canada yew, mountain maple, oxalis, eastern hophornbeam, American hornbeam, serviceberry, hawthorn and pawpaw.

Online References:

Acer pensylvanicum on www.carolinanature.com

Acer pensylvanicum at the USDA Forest Service's Silvics of North America site

Acer pensylvanicum at the University of Connecticut Plant Database

Acer pensylvanicum at the Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

4/25/2013 · Oak Hill, Littleton Conservation Land, Littleton, MA
≈ 3 × 3" (7.4 × 8.2 cm)

10/15/2011 · Mount Wachusett, Princeton, MA
≈ 6 × 9" (14 × 22 cm)

9/29/2013 · South Bubble Hike, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, ME
≈ 6 × 9" (15 × 22 cm)

6/7/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, MA
≈ 15 × 10" (39 × 26 cm)

8/14/2015 · Roost Trail, Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine
≈ 12 × 10" (29 × 25 cm)

10/15/2011 · Mount Wachusett, Princeton, MA
≈ 6 × 9" (14 × 22 cm)

8/1/2009 · Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, ME
≈ 4 × 6' (1.2 × 1.8 m)

Acer pensylvanicum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 7 Sep 2020.

5/21/2014 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, NH
≈ 5 × 6" (13 × 14 cm)

7/22/2012 · Wapack Trail, Pack Monadnock, Peterborough, NH
≈ 6 × 9" (14 × 22 cm)

5/21/2014 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, NH
≈ 11 × 7" (28 × 18 cm)

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, ME

5/2/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Pepperell, MA
≈ 9 × 6" (23 × 15 cm)

4/25/2013 · Oak Hill, Littleton Conservation Land, Littleton, MA
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 20 cm)

9/5/2020 · Hedgehog Mountain, Freeport, ME
≈ 4 × 6" (11 × 15 cm)

5/26/2008 · Wachusett Mountain Area, Princeton, MA
≈ 26 × 17" (66 × 44 cm)

9/5/2020 · Hedgehog Mountain, Freeport, ME
≈ 7 × 4" (16 × 11 cm)

9/5/2020 · Hedgehog Mountain, Freeport, ME
≈ 4 × 5" (9.9 × 13 cm)

Range:

About this map...