Mountain Maple
Acer spicatum Lam.
Description
Mountain maple is a member of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae). It is a multi-stem shrub ³ or small tree that seldom exceeds 25 feet tall. ¹ The opposite leaves have 3 to 5 shallow lobes and where 5-lobed, the lower two lobes are obscure. The leaf blade is 3 to 6 inches long with serrated margins. ¹ The underside of the leaf has small white hairs. The flowering stalk is erect and up to 3 inches long with male flowers towards the end and female flowers at the base. ³ The individual flowers are less than one inch wide. ¹ Fruits are pairs of winged seeds (samaras) each about one-inch long and at right angles to one another. ²
Mountain maple with leaves and flowers. Maryland Biodiversity Project 4
Fruits of mountain maple. Trees of the Adirondacks ³
Distribution
Mountain maple is distributed from Newfoundland to Sasskatchewan, Canada, along the Great Lakes region and south along the Appalachian Mountains to North Carolina and Tennessee. ³ In Maryland it is restricted to the mountains of Allegheny and Garrett counties. 4
Native distribution of mountain maple. USGS 5
Wildlife Importance
Mountain maple is browsed by white-tailed deer and moose. ² It is also used by American beaver for food and dam construction. It supports the larvae of Imperial Moth¹ , the Dagger Moth and Banded Tussock Moth. 4 Ruffed Grouse consume the buds. ³
Economic Importance
Mountain maple has little economic importance. It is generally unavailable in commercial trade and difficult to cultivate. ¹
Threats
There are few serious threats to mountain maple. ¹ It is affected by aphids and scale in addition to fungi. 6
Interesting Facts
- Mountain maple is easily confused with striped maple. It may be distinguished by having erect flowers, hairs on the lower leaf surface, no green-striped stems. ³
References
- North Carolina State Extension: Acer spicatum
- Minnesota Wildflowers: Acer spicatum
- Trees of the Adirondacks: Mountain maple (Acer spicatum)
- Maryland Biodiversity Project: Mountain maple
- USGS: Mountain maple
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: Mountain maple
Contributed by J. Hull