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{{SPlantbox
{{SPlantbox
|familia=Aceraceae
|familia=Aceraceae
|genus=Acer
|genus=Acer
|species=saccharum
|species=saccharum
|common_name=Hard maple, Rock maple, Sugar maple
|common_name=Hard maple, Rock maple, Sugar maple
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|max_zone=8
|max_zone=8
|image=Acer saccharum.jpg
|image_width=200
| image = Acer saccharum foliage.jpg
| image_width = 180px <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
}}
}}
[[File:Autumn leaves (pantone) crop.jpg|thumb|Autumn leaves]]
'''''Acer saccharum''''' ('''Sugar Maple''') is a species of [[maple]] native to the hardwood forests of northeastern [[North America]], from [[Nova Scotia]] west to [[Southern Ontario|southern]] [[Ontario]], and south to [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and [[Texas]].<ref name=grin>Germplasm Resources Information Network: [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?1227 ''Acer saccharum'']</ref>
It is a [[deciduous]] [[tree]] normally reaching heights of 25–35 m (82–115 ft) tall,<ref name=nopd>Northern Ontario Plant Database: [http://www.northernontarioflora.ca/description.cfm?speciesid=1000053 ''Acer saccharum'']</ref><ref name=obs>Oklahoma Biological Survey: [http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/shrub/acsa3.htm ''Acer saccharum'']</ref> and exceptionally up to 45 m (150 feet).<ref>[http://www.nativetreesociety.org/fieldtrips/gsmnp/gsmnp_tall_trees.htm GSMNP tall trees<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> A 10-year-old tree is typically about 5 m (15 ft) tall.
The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[deciduous]], 8–15 cm long and equally wide with five palmate lobes. The basal lobes are relatively small, while the upper lobes are larger and deeply notched. In contrast with the angular notching of the [[Silver Maple]], however, the notches tend to be rounded at their interior. The fall color is often spectacular, ranging from bright yellow through orange to fluorescent red-orange. Sugar maples also have a tendency to color unevenly in fall. In some trees, all colors above can be seen at the same time. There is also a tendency, as there is also with [[Red Maple]]s, for certain parts of a mature tree to change color weeks ahead of or behind the remainder of the tree. The leaf buds are pointy and brown colored. The recent years growth twigs are green, and turn dark brown.
The [[flower]]s are in [[corymb]]s of 5-10 together, yellow-green and without petals; flowering occurs in early spring after 30-55 [[growing degree day]]s. The [[fruit]] is a double [[Samara (fruit)|samara]] with two winged [[seed]]s, the seeds are globose, 7–10 mm diameter, the wing 2–3 cm long. The seeds fall from the tree in autumn and remain viable for only a few days.<ref name="CopelandMcDonald2001">{{citation|author1=Lawrence O. Copeland|author2=M. B. McDonald|title=Principles of seed science and technology|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=cS6rfHocXg4C&pg=PA194|accessdate=25 September 2010|date=31 October 2001|publisher=Springer|isbn=9780792373223|pages=194–}}</ref>
It is closely related to the [[Black Maple]], which is sometimes included in this species but sometimes separated as ''Acer nigrum''. The western American [[Bigtooth Maple]] (''Acer grandidentatum'') is also treated as a variety or subspecies of Sugar Maple by some botanists.
The Sugar Maple is also often confused with the [[Norway Maple]], though they are not closely related within the genus. The Sugar Maple is most easily identified by clear sap in the leaf [[Petiole (botany)|petiole]] (the Norway Maple has white sap), brown sharp-tipped buds (the Norway Maple has blunt green or reddish purple buds), and shaggy bark on older trees (the Norway Maple bark has small grooves). Also, the leaf lobes of the Sugar Maple have a more triangular shape, in contrast to the squarish lobes of the Norway Maple.
The Sugar Maple is an extremely important species to the ecology of many forests in North America. Pure stands are common, and it is a major component of many forest types. It often forms associations with the [[American Beech]], forming the [[beech-maple forest]] type, common in northern areas. Other associations include Sugar Maple-[[Yellow Birch]] (which is most important beyond the northern limit of beech), Sugar Maple-[[Tilia americana|American Basswood]], Sugar Maple-[[White Ash]] and Sugar Maple-[[Ostrya|Ironwood]]-[[List_of_Quercus_species#Section_Lobatae|Red Oak]]. Sugar Maples engage in [[hydraulic lift]], drawing water from lower soil layers and exuding that water into upper, drier soil layers. This not only benefits the tree itself but also many other plants growing around it.<ref>[http://www.springerlink.com/content/n1n685611216p3l0/ Hydraulic lift and its influence on the water content of the rhizosphere: an example from sugar maple, Acer saccharum]</ref>
Sugar Maple is among the most [[Shade tolerance|shade tolerant]] of large deciduous trees. Among North American maples its shade tolerance is exceeded only by the [[Striped Maple]], a smaller tree. Like other maples, its shade tolerance is manifested in its ability to germinate and persist under a closed canopy as an understory plant, and respond with rapid growth to the increased light formed by a gap in the canopy. The sugar maple can grow comfortably in any type of soil, except sand.
Human influences have contributed to the decline of the Sugar Maple in many regions. Its role as a species of mature forests has led it to be replaced by more opportunistic species in areas where forests are cut over. The Sugar Maple also exhibits a greater susceptibility to pollution than other species of maple. [[Acid rain]] and [[soil acidification]] are some of the primary contributing factors to [[maple decline]]. Also, the increased use of salt over the last several decades on streets and roads for de-icing purposes has decimated the sugar maple's role as a "street-front" tree.
In some parts of eastern North America, particularly near urbanized areas, the Sugar Maple is being displaced by the [[Acer platanoides|Norway Maple]]. The Norway Maple is also highly shade tolerant, but is considerably more tolerant of urban conditions resulting in the Sugar Maple's replacement in those areas heavily disturbed by human activities.
The Sugar Maple is one of the most important [[Trees of Canada|Canadian trees]], being (with [[Black Maple]]) the major source of sap for making [[maple syrup]], although Sugar Maple is regarded as slightly better.
The Sugar Maple is a favorite street and garden tree, because it is easy to propagate and transplant, is fairly fast-growing, and has beautiful fall color. The shade and the shallow, fibrous [[root]]s may interfere with grass growing under the trees. Deep well-drained [[loam]] is the best rooting medium, although Sugar Maple can grow well on sandy soil which does not become excessively dry. Light (or loose) clay soils are also well known to support Sugar Maple. Poorly drained areas are unsuitable and the species is especially short-lived on flood-prone clay flats. Its salt tolerance is low and it is very sensitive to [[boron]].
{{Inc|
{{Inc|
[[Image:SugarMaple.jpg|left|thumb|A farm with a Sugar Maple in the front yard]]
[[Image:SugarMaple.jpg|left|thumb|A farm with a Sugar Maple in the front yard]]
[[Image:Sugar Maple Acer saccharum Trunk base 3264px.jpg|right|thumb|The bark of the Sugar Maple]]
[[Image:Sugar Maple Acer saccharum Trunk base 3264px.jpg|right|thumb|The bark of the Sugar Maple]]
Acer saccharum, Marsh. (A. saccharinum, Wang., not Linn. A. barbatum, Michx.). Sugar or Rock Maple. Fig. 98. Large tree, 120 ft., with gray bark: lvs. 3-5-lobed, cordate, 3-6 in. long, with narrow and deep sinuses; lobes acuminate, sparingly dentate, usually glaucous and glabrous beneath: corymb hairy: fr. with slightly spreading wings, glabrous. E. N. Amer. S.S. 2:90. Em. 558. H.T. 324. Gn. 65, p. 55 (habit). —An excellent street and shade tree of upright, dense growth, turning bright yellow and scarlet in autumn. It does well in almost every soil. Var. Rugelii, Rehd. (A. Rugelii, Pax, A. saccharum var. barbatum, Trel.). Lvs. 3-lobed, generally broader than long, 2-5 in. across, pale green or glaucous beneath, and at length mostly glabrous, coriaceous; lobes nearly entire. Central states. S.S. 2:91 (as var. nigrum). Var. monumentale, Schwerin (A. nigrum var. monumentale, Rehd.). Of upright, columnar habit.{{SCH}}
Acer saccharum, Marsh. (A. saccharinum, Wang., not Linn. A. barbatum, Michx.). Sugar or Rock Maple. Large tree, 120 ft., with gray bark: lvs. 3-5-lobed, cordate, 3-6 in. long, with narrow and deep sinuses; lobes acuminate, sparingly dentate, usually glaucous and glabrous beneath: corymb hairy: fr. with slightly spreading wings, glabrous. E. N. Amer. —An excellent street and shade tree of upright, dense growth, turning bright yellow and scarlet in autumn. It does well in almost every soil. Var. Rugelii, Rehd. (A. Rugelii, Pax, A. saccharum var. barbatum, Trel.). Lvs. 3-lobed, generally broader than long, 2-5 in. across, pale green or glaucous beneath, and at length mostly glabrous, coriaceous; lobes nearly entire. Central states. Var. monumentale, Schwerin (A. nigrum var. monumentale, Rehd.). Of upright, columnar habit.{{SCH}}
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}}
<gallery>
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File:Acer saccharum JPG1L.jpg| photo 1
File:Sugar Maple Acer saccharum Trunk base 3264px.jpg| photo 2
File:Acer platanoides 1aJPG.jpg| photo 3
</gallery>
</gallery>
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