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Acer spicatum Lam.

Mountain 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
SpeciesspicatumMeans “with flowers in spikes”

About plant names...

Mountain maple is native to southeastern Canada and the northeastern United States.

Identification: Mountain maple is a small tree or shrub, up to 33' (10 m) in height, but usually much smaller, especially at the northern end of its range. The trunk is short, often crooked, and often shrublike. It is found in cool woods, growing in shade or sun. This is easily confused with striped maple—both are found in mountain forests, and both are small trees with three-lobed leaves—but mountain maple is found at higher elevations. To further confuse matters, there is a western species, Acer glabrum, that is also called mountain maple. (See Acer for comparisons.)

Online References:

Acer spicatum on the USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Acer spicatum on Earl J.S. Rook's Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky ... The Natural History of the Northwoods

Acer spicatum on www.carolinanature.com

Acer spicatum at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Acer spicatum on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

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

Acer spicatum (mountain maple)

10/3/2010 · Tarkill Interpretive Trail, Rte 402, Poconos, Peck’s Pond, Penn­syl­vania
≈ 3½ × 2½' (1.2 × 0.8 m)

 

Acer spicatum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

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Acer spicatum (mountain maple)

10/3/2010 · Tarkill Interpretive Trail, Rte 402, Poconos, Peck’s Pond, Penn­syl­vania
≈ 8 × 8" (21 × 20 cm)

Acer spicatum (mountain maple)

10/3/2010 · Tarkill Interpretive Trail, Rte 402, Poconos, Peck’s Pond, Penn­syl­vania
≈ 3 × 2' (97 × 66 cm)

Range:

About this map...