| Silver maple | ||||||||||||||
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| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial nomenclature | ||||||||||||||
| Acer saccharinum |
The silver maple (Acer saccharinum) is a member of the maple family found in the northeastern United States and adjacent parts of Canada and the US central plains. (Brand, 2001). It is a relatively fast-growing tree, commonly reaching a height of 20 m (70 ft). Taller specimens can reach 30 m (100 ft).
The silver maple has brittle wood. The roots are shallow and fibrous and easily invade septic fields and old drain pipes. It is, nonetheless, popular as a street and yard tree because of its rapid growth and ease of propagation and transplanting.
The silver maple is often found along waterways and in wetlands, leading to the colloquial name 'water maple.'
Leaves are palmate with deep angular notches between the lobes. The leaves are somewhat loosely attached, thus a light breeze can produce a striking effect as the silver undersides of the leaves are exposed.
On mature trunks, the bark is gray and shaggy. On branches and young trunks, the bark is smooth and silvery gray.
Brand, Mark. 1997-2001. [UConn Plant Database of Trees, Shrubs, and Vines].Characteristics
Leaves of the Silver Maple
Bark of the Silver MapleReferences