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Acer rubrum L.

Red maple, swamp maple, soft maple

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassRosidaeRoses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
OrderSapindalesIncludes citrus; maples, horse-chestnuts, lychees and rambutans; mangos and cashews; frankincense and myrrh; mahogany and neem
FamilySapindaceaeSoapberry family
GenusAcerMaples
SpeciesrubrumRed: 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 Skull & Crossbones 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

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

A guess · 4/3/2011 · Susan & Raimond’s, Phoenix, Mary­land · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

4/20/2017 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

4/15/2021 · Brunswick Town Commons, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 4 × 2½″ (11 × 7.3 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

4/11/2015 · Kirby Storter Park Boardwalk, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 11 × 7″ (28 × 18 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

4/13/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

5/27/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

10/31/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

5/13/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

10/31/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

5/27/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

5/4/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

10/3/2008 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

3/21/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

4/11/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

9/28/2011 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

5/4/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

5/2/2023 · Brunswick Town Commons, Brunswick, Maine

Acer barbatum Michx. p.p.

 

Acer rubrum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 6 May 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

4/11/2015 · Big Cypress Bend, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Florida · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (47 × 31 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

The eyespot galls are Cecidomyia ocellaris · 6/1/2014 · Oak Hill, Littleton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 10 × 7″ (25 × 16 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

4/8/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 3½ × 2½″ (9.8 × 6.6 cm) ID is uncertain

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

5/2/2023 · Brunswick Town Commons, Brunswick, Maine

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

10/7/2012 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

5/4/2017 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

4/11/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 3½ × 2½″ (9.8 × 6.6 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

5/4/2017 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 14 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

5/13/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

5/13/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

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

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

4/20/2017 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

A guess · 4/3/2011 · Susan & Raimond’s, Phoenix, Mary­land · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

The eyespot galls are Cecidomyia ocellaris · 6/1/2014 · Oak Hill, Littleton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 10 × 7″ (25 × 16 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

5/2/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

The eyespot galls are Cecidomyia ocellaris · 6/4/2021 · Robert P. Tristram Coffin Wild Flower Reservation, Woolwich, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.5 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

9/25/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

5/2/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)

Acer rubrum (red maple, swamp maple, soft maple)

8/9/2012 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Big Tree Trail, Hollis, New Hamp­shire

Range:

About this map...