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Key to southeastern U.S. Acer (maple) species
 

Aceraceae - the maple family

 

Note: distinctive features are shown in bold text.  Click on a term for its definition.  Click on any image to see it enlarged. Then use your browser's Back button to return.

 

General: woody, shrubs and trees, deciduous temperate


A. spicatum
A. saccharum

 

Leaves: opposite, usually simple, palmate venation, no stipules


A. pensylvanicum
A. saccharinum

 

 

Inflor: cyme, raceme, umbel


A.spicatum
A.rubrum

 

Flower: regular, functionally dioecious, monecious, or perfect

 

 

floral structure
calyx (sepals)
corolla (petals)
androecium (anthers)
gynoecium (carpels)
number of parts
(4-)5(-8)
0 or (4-)5(-8)
(4-)5(-8) or (8-)10(-16)
2
description
joined some at base
 
on a disk
A. saccharum
2 linear stigmas on one style, lobed superior ovary, axile

 A. saccharinum

             

 

Fruit: 2 winged double samara, 2 ovules form one seed

 

A. saccharum

 

Uses: durable shock-proof wood, syrup, ornamental, filter charcoal

Examples:

Acer negundo (box elder)
Acer pensylvanicum (striped maple or moosewood)
Acer rubrum (red maple)
Acer saccharinum (silver maple)
Acer saccharum  (sugar maple)
Acer spicatum (mountain maple)

 

View taxonomy at plants.usda.gov
View taxonomy at National Center for Biotechnology Information
View phylogeny at Tree of Life

This information originated from notes taken in a plant taxonomy class taught by Robert Kral at Vanderbilt University
Images copyright 2002-03 Steve Baskauf - Terms of use