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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Silver Maple
| image = Silber-Ahorn_(Acer_saccharinum).jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Sapindales]]
| familia = [[Sapindaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Maple|Acer]]''
| species = '''''A. saccharinum'''''
| binomial = ''Acer saccharinum''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
The '''Silver Maple''' (''Acer saccharinum'') is a species of [[maple]] native to the eastern [[United States]] and adjacent parts of southeast [[Canada]]. It is a relatively fast-growing tree, commonly reaching a height of 20-30 m, exceptionally 35 m. It is often found along waterways and in wetlands, leading to the colloquial name "Water Maple". It is one of the most common trees in the [[United States]]. The Silver Maple is a highly adaptable tree, although it has higher sunlight requirements than other maples.
[[Image:Silver-maple-leaves.jpg|thumb|left|leaves]]
The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[leaf shape|palmate]], 8-16 cm long and 6-12 cm broad, with deep angular notches between the five lobes. The 5-12 cm long, slender stalks of the leaves mean that even a light breeze can produce a striking effect as the silver undersides of the leaves are exposed.
The [[flower]]s are in small [[panicle]]s, produced before the leaves in early spring, with the [[seed]]s maturing in early summer. The seeds are winged, in pairs, small (5-10 mm diameter), the wing about 3-5 cm long. Although the wings provide for some transport by air, the seeds are heavy and are also transported by water.
On mature trunks, the bark is gray and shaggy. On branches and young trunks, the bark is smooth and silvery gray.
In many parts of the eastern U.S., the large buds of the Silver maple are one of the primary food sources for [[squirrels]] during the spring, after many acorns and nuts have sprouted and the squirrels' food is scarce. The seeds are the largest of any native maple and are also a food source for wildlife.
==Cultivation==
[[Image:Silver-maple-bark.jpg|thumb|left|Silver Maple bark]]
The Silver Maple has brittle wood, and is commonly damaged in storms. The roots are shallow and fibrous and easily invade septic fields and old drain pipes. It is a vigorous resprouter, and if not pruned, it will often grow with multiple trunks. It is, nonetheless, widely used as an [[ornamental plant|ornamental tree]] because of its rapid growth and ease of propagation and transplanting. It is highly tolerant of urban conditions, which is why it is frequently planted next to streets. Although it naturally is found near water, it can grow on drier ground if planted there.
It is also commonly cultivated outside its native range, showing tolerance of a wide range of climates, growing successfully as far north as central [[Norway]] and south to [[Orlando, Florida]]. It can thrive in a [[Mediterranean climate]], as at [[Jerusalem]] and [[Los Angeles]], if summer water is provided. It is also grown in temperate parts of the [[Southern Hemisphere]], as in [[Argentina]] and [[Uruguay]].
Silver Maple is closely related to [[Red Maple]], and can hybridise with it, the [[hybrid]] being known as the Freeman Maple (''Acer x freemanii''). The Freeman Maple is a popular ornamental tree in [[park]]s and large [[garden]]s, combining the fast growth of Silver Maple with the less brittle wood and less invasive roots of Red Maple.
==References==
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ACSA2 USDA Plants Profile: ''Acer saccharinum'']
*[http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/a/acesac/acesac1.html UConn Plant Database: Silver Maple]
*[http://wildwnc.org/trees/Acer_saccharinum.html Trees of Western North Carolina: Silver Maple]
*[http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/acsa2.htm ''Acer saccharinum'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]
{{Commonscat|Acer saccharinum}}
[[Category:Sapindaceae|Maple, Silver]]
[[Category:Trees of Southeastern Canada]]
[[Category:Trees of Plains-Midwest U.S.]]
[[Category:Trees of Eastern United States]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = Silver Maple
| image = Silber-Ahorn_(Acer_saccharinum).jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Sapindales]]
| familia = [[Sapindaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Maple|Acer]]''
| species = '''''A. saccharinum'''''
| binomial = ''Acer saccharinum''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
The '''Silver Maple''' (''Acer saccharinum'') is a species of [[maple]] native to the eastern [[United States]] and adjacent parts of southeast [[Canada]]. It is a relatively fast-growing tree, commonly reaching a height of 20-30 m, exceptionally 35 m. It is often found along waterways and in wetlands, leading to the colloquial name "Water Maple". It is one of the most common trees in the [[United States]]. The Silver Maple is a highly adaptable tree, although it has higher sunlight requirements than other maples.
[[Image:Silver-maple-leaves.jpg|thumb|left|leaves]]
The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[leaf shape|palmate]], 8-16 cm long and 6-12 cm broad, with deep angular notches between the five lobes. The 5-12 cm long, slender stalks of the leaves mean that even a light breeze can produce a striking effect as the silver undersides of the leaves are exposed.
The [[flower]]s are in small [[panicle]]s, produced before the leaves in early spring, with the [[seed]]s maturing in early summer. The seeds are winged, in pairs, small (5-10 mm diameter), the wing about 3-5 cm long. Although the wings provide for some transport by air, the seeds are heavy and are also transported by water.
On mature trunks, the bark is gray and shaggy. On branches and young trunks, the bark is smooth and silvery gray.
In many parts of the eastern U.S., the large buds of the Silver maple are one of the primary food sources for [[squirrels]] during the spring, after many acorns and nuts have sprouted and the squirrels' food is scarce. The seeds are the largest of any native maple and are also a food source for wildlife.
==Cultivation==
[[Image:Silver-maple-bark.jpg|thumb|left|Silver Maple bark]]
The Silver Maple has brittle wood, and is commonly damaged in storms. The roots are shallow and fibrous and easily invade septic fields and old drain pipes. It is a vigorous resprouter, and if not pruned, it will often grow with multiple trunks. It is, nonetheless, widely used as an [[ornamental plant|ornamental tree]] because of its rapid growth and ease of propagation and transplanting. It is highly tolerant of urban conditions, which is why it is frequently planted next to streets. Although it naturally is found near water, it can grow on drier ground if planted there.
It is also commonly cultivated outside its native range, showing tolerance of a wide range of climates, growing successfully as far north as central [[Norway]] and south to [[Orlando, Florida]]. It can thrive in a [[Mediterranean climate]], as at [[Jerusalem]] and [[Los Angeles]], if summer water is provided. It is also grown in temperate parts of the [[Southern Hemisphere]], as in [[Argentina]] and [[Uruguay]].
Silver Maple is closely related to [[Red Maple]], and can hybridise with it, the [[hybrid]] being known as the Freeman Maple (''Acer x freemanii''). The Freeman Maple is a popular ornamental tree in [[park]]s and large [[garden]]s, combining the fast growth of Silver Maple with the less brittle wood and less invasive roots of Red Maple.
==References==
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ACSA2 USDA Plants Profile: ''Acer saccharinum'']
*[http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/a/acesac/acesac1.html UConn Plant Database: Silver Maple]
*[http://wildwnc.org/trees/Acer_saccharinum.html Trees of Western North Carolina: Silver Maple]
*[http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/acsa2.htm ''Acer saccharinum'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]
{{Commonscat|Acer saccharinum}}
[[Category:Sapindaceae|Maple, Silver]]
[[Category:Trees of Southeastern Canada]]
[[Category:Trees of Plains-Midwest U.S.]]
[[Category:Trees of Eastern United States]]
