Acer is a genus of trees and shrubs commonly known as maples. The genus is placed in the family Sapindaceae.[1] There are approximately 128 species, most of which are native to Asia,[2] with a number also appearing in Europe, northern Africa, and North America. Only one species, Acer laurinum, extends to the Southern Hemisphere.[3] The type species of the genus is the sycamore maple, Acer pseudoplatanus, the most common maple species in Europe.[4] The maples usually have easily recognizable palmate leaves (Acer negundo is an exception) and distinctive winged fruits. The closest relatives of the maples are the horse chestnuts. Maple syrup is made from the sap of some maple species.
Fossil Record
The oldest known fossil definitive representative of genus Acer was described from a single leaf found in Alaska from the Lower Paleocene. Samaras have been found in rocks as old as 66.5 Ma, but the samaras cannot reliably be attributed to the Acer genus.
Cultural significance
A maple leaf is on the coat of arms of Canada, and is on the Canadian flag. The maple is a common symbol of strength and endurance and has been chosen as the national tree of Canada. Maple leaves are traditionally an important part of Canadian Forces military regalia, for example, the military rank insignia for generals use maple leaf symbols. There are 10 species naturally growing in the country, with at least one in each province. Although the idea of the tree as a national symbol originally hailed from the province of Quebec where the sugar maple is significant, today’s arboreal emblem of Canada rather refers to a generic maple.[15] The design on the flag is an eleven-point stylization modeled after a sugar maple leaf (which normally bears 23 points).
It is also in the name of Canadian ice hockey club Toronto Maple Leafs.
The first attested use of the word was in 1260 as “mapole”, and it also appears a century later in Geoffrey Chaucer‘s Canterbury Tales, spelled as “mapul”.
The maple is also a symbol of Hiroshima, ubiquitous in the local meibutsu.
The maple trees of New England and the entire northeast are famous for their fluorescent autumn colors. Can you identify each of these species? Would you recognize them in their old-growth forms? Join us for a look at these magic maples. Old-growth forest expert Bob Leverett and Harvard Forest Senior Ecologist Neil Pederson are featured.
These maple species are included:
– Red maple (Acer rubrum)
– Silver maple (Acer saccharinum)
– Boxelder or Ash-leaved maple (Acer negundo)
– Sugar maple or Rock maple (Acer saccharum)
– Norway maple (Acer platanoides)
– Striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum)
– Mountain maple (Acer spicatum)– Black maple (Acer nigrum)
TMC for ek hornbeck
Recent Comments