Sapindaceae FAMILY

Acer saccharum

Edibility

4/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Acer saccharum is a deciduous tree developing a broad, round-topped dome at maturity; it usually grows 12 - 25 metres tall, though it can reach 30 - 35 metres or more. The straight, cylindrical bole can be free of branches for up to 20 metres and around 90 - 120cm in diameter[ 82 Title Manual of the Trees of N. America. Publication Author Sargent. C. S. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Publisher Dover Publications Inc. New York. Year 1965 ISBN 0-486-20278-X Description Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet. ]. The sugar maple has a wide range of uses as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is especially valued as the major source of maple syrup, and has become the centre of a multi-billion dollar industry in the U.S. And Canada[ 1 Title RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Publication Author F. Chittendon. Publisher Oxford University Press Year 1951 ISBN - Description Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]). , 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. , 352 Title KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder Publication Author Website http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Year 0 ISBN Description Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone. ]. The tree is also the source of a high quality timber and is considered by many to be the most valuable hardwood tree in N. America. A very ornamental tree, it can be grown in larger gardens, parks etc[ 1 Title RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Publication Author F. Chittendon. Publisher Oxford University Press Year 1951 ISBN - Description Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]). ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEastern N. America - Newfoundland to Georgia, west to Minnesota and Texas.

HabitatFound in a variety of soil types, doing best in deep rich well-drained soils from sea level to 1,600 metres[ 229 Title The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Publication Author Elias. T. Publisher Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. Year 1980 ISBN 0442238622 Description A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions. ]. Rich usually hilly woods[ 43 Title Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition Publication Author Fernald. M. L. Publisher American Book Co.; New York Year 1950 ISBN 0442222505 Description A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America. ].