Striped Maple

Acer pensylvanicum L.

Description

Striped maple is a member of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae). It is an understory tree and may take on a more shrub-like appearance ¹. It may reach heights of 35 feet ⁵. The tree is recognized for its smooth bark, which has a greenish-brown hue and thin white lines. As the tree grows older, the bark’s color changes to a reddish-brown with dark lines ¹. Another key identifier is the leaves, they have three lobes and are finely serrated, and grow as long as seven inches ², and in the fall the leaves turn a bright yellow. Fruits are up to 1-inch long samaras ⁵.

Striped Maple Tree

Aspect and fall foliage of striped maple ²

Striped Maple in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/13/2014). (Photo ID: 14704 - Psn: 35)

Young bark showing green and white stripes. B. Hubick ⁸

Trees of the Adirondacks: Striped Maple (Acer pensylvanicum) on the Heart Lake Trail (30 September 2018).

Leaf of striped maple ¹

Striped Maple in Allegany Co., Maryland (5/6/2016). (Photo ID: 70600 - Psn: 70)

Flowers of striped maple. K. Booth ⁸

Fruits of striped maple ¹¹

Distribution

The striped maple is native to many places all over the northeastern quarter of the united states, including southeastern parts of Canada as well ¹. Due to its small appearance it prefers and does very well in heavily shaded areas and does exceptionally well in cooler summers⁵, so you won’t expect to find this in hot as well as humid areas on the map ⁵. It grows in shady areas with moist soil with great drainage, and much like almost all maples it prefers ¹ northern slopes or deep valleys. In Maryland, striped maple can be found scattered throughout the western mountainous regions ⁸.

Natural distribution of striped maple ³

Wildlife Importance

Not only is it a great nesting place for small birds it is also commonly used as a browse plant by many creatures. The twigs of the plant are typically consumed by mammals like hares, white-tailed deer, porcupines, and moose, while the seeds are targeted by other animals such as chipmunks and red squirrels ¹. Striped maple supports the caterpillars of Imperial Moth ⁵. In addition to serving as a food source for browsing animals, this tree plays a crucial role in adding vertical diversity and creating multiple layers within the forest. This enables a greater range of animal species to inhabit the ecosystem, thereby enhancing its overall biodiversity and improving its ecological health ⁴.

Economic Importance

Although the striped maple has few commercial uses, its fine-grained wood has been utilized as an inlay material for cabinets ³. Striped maple has been an important resource for Native American tribes, who have utilized both its wood and bark for a variety of purposes. The bark has been traditionally used for medicinal purposes ³. The inner bark can be brewed into a tea and used to treat various conditions such as colds, coughs, bronchitis, kidney infections, and gonorrhea ¹⁰.

Threats

In certain regions of the world, this particular tree is prone to a number of issues, including soil-borne diseases that may prove fatal for the affected species ⁶. They are prone to gall midges another term for gnats ⁶, fungal diseases, frost, and other pathogenic diseases as well such as Cristulariella leaf spots, and leaf blight these both cause spots and/or holes that could really be damaging to the leaf as well ⁶.

Interesting Facts

Striped maple is also known as the “Goosefoot” Maple due to its leaves’ resemblance to a goosefoot ².
Its distinctive bark characteristics have earned it the nickname “Snake Bark Maple” ³.
Other common names include “moosewood” and “whistlewood”⁵.
Striped maples produce a fruit called double samaras (a.k.a. Winged seeds) they usually ripen towards the end of the summer ⁷.
The largest stripe ever recorded was discovered in the early 1900s, in Kentucky in which it ranged up to 65ft tall and 4.5 ft in diameter ⁹.

References

Contributed by T. Clark

Towson University Glen Arboretum