Norway maple

Acer platanoides L.

Description from Invasive.org

Appearance
Acer platanoides is a tree that usually grows to 40-60 ft. (12-18 m) in height, but can reach heights of 100 ft. (30 m). The bark of the tree is grayish and regularly and shallowly grooved.
Foliage
The palmately lobed leaves are opposite and have 5 to 7 sharply acuminate lobes (with large but few teeth). These leaves are 4-7 in. (10-18 cm) wide. The leaf petioles exude a white sap when broken. The leaves are usually green in color, but there are some cultivars that have dark red leaves. The fall color of the green leaves is yellow.
Flowers
The flowers appear in April and May and are yellow-green in color. They are borne in erect, pedunculate, rounded corymbs. Each flower is 0.25 in. (5-6 mm) wide.
Fruit
The pendulous fruit measure 1.5-2 in. (4-5 cm) in length. The fruit are samaras that are green when young and turn yellow, then brown, with age. The samara wings are divergent, reaching nearly 180 degree angle to each other and are dispersed by wind.
Ecological Threat
Acer platanoides is able to shade out native understory vegetation such as spring ephemerals, and eventually out-competes native tree species in the forest canopy. Thus, it can reduce native species diversity and change the structure of forest habitats.

Resources


Selected Images from Invasive.org

View All Images at Invasive.org


Tree(s) habitat; flower
Robert Vidéki, Doronicum Kft., Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Tree(s)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Tree(s)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Tree(s) habitat; flower
Robert Vidéki, Doronicum Kft., Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Foliage
Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Foliage
Jan Samanek, Phytosanitary Administration, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Foliage
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Foliage
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Fruit(s) samaras
Robert Vidéki, Doronicum Kft., Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Fruit(s)
Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Fruit(s)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Fruit(s)
Bill Cook, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Flower(s)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Flower(s)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Flower(s) inflorescence
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Flower(s)
Jan Samanek, Phytosanitary Administration, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s) 1. Branchlet with corymb, terminating developing young shoots (a - e) with deciduous (typically green) transitional leaves at their base (k). - 2. Branchlet with mature leaves and ripe fruits (double samaras). Stalk exuding a milky sap when broken. Wings of the samaras spread perpendicular to the pedicels (»horizontally spreading«), with conspicuously flat nutlets. - 3. Seedling with cotyledons (c) and first pair of ordinary leaves. - 4. Winter-branchlet; buds are reddish-brown, glossy, terminal bud is larger. Leaf-scars are opposite, horseshoe- or heart-shaped and connected extreme laterally. After Hempel & Wilhelm, 1889. Photos and explanations from the book: Zelimir Borzan. "Tree and Shrub Names in Latin, Croatian, English, and German, with synonyms", University of Zagreb, 2001.
Zelimir Borzan, University of Zagreb, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Bark
Keith Kanoti, Maine Forest Service, Bugwood.org
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Bark
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Twig(s)/Shoot(s) Buds
Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Distribution