Sapindaceae FAMILY

Acer spicatum

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Acer spicatum is a deciduous shrub or a small tree that can grow up to 9 metres tall but is usually smaller. The short, often crooked bole can be 20cm 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 Year 1965 ISBN 0-486-20278-X Description Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now.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 lower branches of the plants often self-layer, the plants then forming an impenetrable thicket[ 226 Title Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Publication Author Lauriault. J. Publisher Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. Year 1989 ISBN 0889025649 Description Very good on identification for non-experts, the book also has a lot of information on plant uses. ]. The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEastern and central N. America - Saskatchewan to Labrador, south to Wisconsin and Georgia.

HabitatDeep rich moist soils in cool habitats such as the edges of mountain streams, ravines or in woodlands[ 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. ].