sugar maple Aceraceae Acer saccharum Marsh. symbol: ACSA3 Leaf: Opposite, simple and palmately veined, 3 to 6 inches long, 5 delicately rounded lobes, entire margin; green above, paler below. Flower: Light yellow-green, small, clustered, hanging from a long, slender (1 to 3 inch) stem, appearing with or slightly before the leaves in early spring. Fruit: Two-winged horseshoe-shaped samaras about 1 inch long, appearing in clusters, brown when mature in in the fall. Twig: Brown, slender and shiny with lighter lenticels; terminal buds brown, very sharp pointed, with tight scales. Bark: Variable, but generally brown, on older trees it becomes darker, develops furrows, with long, thick irregular curling outward, firm ridges. Form: Medium to tall tree (to 100 feet) with very dense elliptical crown. Looks like: black maple - red maple - Norway maple - Florida maple Additional Range Information: Acer saccharum is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting sugar maple. External Links: USDAFS Silvics of North America USDAFS Additional Silvics Landowner Factsheet USDA Plants Database Horticulture