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| Acer saccharinum | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Sapindaceae |
| Genus: | Acer |
| Section: | Acersect. Rubra |
| Species: | A. saccharinum |
| Binomial name | |
| Acer saccharinum L. 1753 | |
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| Natural range ofAcer saccharinum | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
List
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Acer saccharinum, commonly known assilver maple,[3]creek maple,silverleaf maple,[3]soft maple,large maple,[3]water maple,[3]swamp maple,[3] orwhite maple,[3] is a species ofmaple native to the eastern and centralUnited States and southeasternCanada.[3][4] It is one of the most common trees in theUnited States.
Although the silver maple'sLatin name is similar, it should not be confused withAcer saccharum, the sugar maple. Some of the common names are also applied to other maples, especiallyAcer rubrum.
The silver maple tree is a relatively fast-growingdeciduoustree, commonly reaching a height of 15–25 m (49–82 ft), exceptionally 35 m (115 ft). Its spread will generally be 11–15 m (36–49 ft) wide. A 10-year-old sapling will stand about 8 m (26 ft) tall. It is often found along waterways and in wetlands, leading to the colloquial name "water maple". It is a highly adaptable tree, although it has higher sunlight requirements than other maple trees.Theleaves aresimple and palmately veined, 8–16 cm (3+1⁄4–6+1⁄4 in) long and6–12 cm (2+1⁄4–4+3⁄4 in) broad, with deep angular notches between the five lobes. The5–12 cm (2–4+3⁄4 in) long, slender stalks of the leaves mean that even a light breeze can produce a striking effect as the downy silver undersides of the leaves are exposed. The autumn color is less pronounced than in many maples, generally ending up a pale yellow, although some specimens can produce a more brilliant yellow and even orange and red colorations. The tree has a tendency to color and drop its leaves slightly earlier in autumn than other maples.
Theflowers are in dense clusters, produced before the leaves in early spring,[5] with theseeds maturing in early summer. The fruit is aschizocarp of two single-seeded, wingedsamaras. The wing of each samara is about3–5 cm (1+1⁄4–2 in) long. The fruit of this species is the largest among the maples native to its range. Although the wings provide for some transport by air, the fruit are heavy and are also transported by water. Silver maple and its close cousinred maple are the onlyAcer species which produce their fruit crop in spring instead of fall. The seeds of both trees have noepigeal dormancy and will germinate immediately. Seed production begins at 11 years of age and large crops are produced most years. Like most maples, silver maple can be variably dioecious (separate male or female trees) or monoecious (male and female flowers on the same tree) but dioecious trees are far more common. They can also change sex from year to year.[6]
On mature trunks, the bark is gray and shaggy. On branches and young trunks, the bark is smooth and silvery gray.[citation needed]
Wildlife uses the silver maple in various ways. In many parts of the eastern U.S., the large rounded buds are one of the primary food sources forsquirrels during the spring, after many acorns and nuts have sprouted and the squirrels' food is scarce. The seeds are also a food source forchipmunks and birds. The bark can be eaten bybeaver anddeer. The trunks tend to produce cavities, which can shelter squirrels,raccoons,opossums,owls andwoodpeckers, and are frequented bycarpenter ants.[7] Additionally, the leaves serve as a source of food for species ofLepidoptera, such as the rosy maple moth (Dryocampa rubicunda).[8]
The wood can be used aspulp for making paper.[9] Lumber from the tree is used in furniture, cabinets, flooring, musical instruments, crates, and tool handles, because it is light and easily worked. Because of the silver maple's fast growth, it is being researched as a potential source ofbiofuels.[7] Silver maple produces a sweet sap but it is generally not used by commercial sugarmakers because its sugar content is lower than in other maple species.[10]
Silver maple is often planted as anornamental tree because of its rapid growth and ease of propagation and transplanting. It is highly tolerant of urban situations and is frequently planted next to streets. However, its quick growth produces brittle wood which is commonly damaged in storms. The silver maple's root system is shallow and fibrous and easily invades septic fields and old drain pipes; it can also crack sidewalks and foundations. It is a vigorous resprouter, and if not pruned, will often grow with multiple trunks. Although it naturally is found near water, it can grow on drier ground if planted there. In ideal natural conditions,A. saccharinum may live up to 130 years but in urban environments often 80 or less.[citation needed]
FollowingWorld War II, silver maples were commonly used as a landscaping and street tree in suburban housing developments and cities due to their rapid growth, especially as a replacement for the blightedAmerican elm. However, they fell out of favor for this purpose because of brittle wood, unattractive form when not pruned or trained, and tendency to produce large numbers of volunteer seedlings. Today the tree has fallen so far out of favor that some towns and cities have banned its use as a street tree.[11][12]
Silver maple's natural range encompasses most of the eastern US, the Midwestern US and southern Canada, that being Southern Ontario and southwestern Quebec. It is generally absent from the humid US coastal plain south of Maryland, so it is confined to the Appalachians in those states. It does not occur along the Gulf Coast or in Florida outside a few scattered locations in the panhandle.
It is commonly cultivated outside its native range, showing tolerance of a wide range of climates, and growing successfully as far north as centralNorway. It also is inAnchorage, Alaska.[13] It can thrive in aMediterranean climate, as atJerusalem andLos Angeles, if summer water is provided.
The silver maple is closely related to thered maple (Acer rubrum) and can hybridise with it. Thehybrid is known as the Freeman maple (Acer × freemanii). The Freeman maple is a popular ornamental tree in parks and large gardens, combining the fast growth of silver maple with the less brittle wood, less invasive roots, and the beautiful bright red fall foliage of the red maple. ThecultivarAcer × freemaniiAutumn Blaze = 'Jeffersred'[14] has gained theRoyal Horticultural Society'sAward of Garden Merit.
The silver maple is the favoredhost of the maple bladder gall miteVasates quadripedes.[15]
Native Americans used the sap of wild trees to makesugar, as medicine, and in bread. They used the wood to make baskets and furniture.[7] Aninfusion of bark removed from the south side of the tree is used by theMohegan as cough medicine.[16] TheCherokee take an infusion of the bark to treat cramps, menstrual pains,dysentery, and hives.[17] They boil the inner bark and use it with water as a wash for sore eyes. They take a hot infusion of the bark to treatmeasles. They use the tree to make baskets, for lumber, building material, and for carving.[17]
