Red Maple

Basic Information
Tree ID: 
170
Family: 
Sapindaceae
Genus and species: 
Acer rubrum
Description: 
This red maple, although a late bloomer, is a seasonal showstopper. Located in Sachem's Wood, it brings a burst of fall flair to Science Hill. What it lacks in age and size, it makes up in its bright, red leaves and fiery presence that turns heads and lights up the campus. Stop by in the fall to witness its beautiful foliage.
Surveyors: 
Alexander Lee and Alex Lam
Location
Area: 
Prospect and Sachem
Collected Data
Tree shape: 
Oval
Date of tree entry: 
02/04/2025
Height: 
6.37 m
Diameter at breast height: 
0.14 m

Bark
The bark of this young, red maple tree has a light-gray color and a smooth, even texture. There is a sizable vertical crack in the middle of the trunk, which is indicative of the tree's growth. As red maples age, they develop a darker bark and more vertical cracks, forming layers of vertical plates.
Twigs & branches
The branches on this red maple begin several feet above the ground and grow in an opposite pattern where branches are directly across from each other. The bark of the branches is gray and smooth, matching that of the trunk. The twigs of this tree have a red color and are relatively slender and smooth.
Foilage
The red maple displays a brilliant, red foliage in the autumn. This tree has simple leaves that have three to five palmate lobes, are deciduous, and are arranged oppositely on twigs. Source: https://www.nashvilletreeconservationcorps.org/treenews/red-maple-tree
Reproductive Structures
The flowers of this red maple are small with slender stalks and have a rich red color. They are tightly clustered and are generally unisexual but can also sometimes be bisexual.
Fruit
The fruit of a red maple tree is a winged seed called a samara. Each fruit has two joined wings that vary in color from light brown to red. They ripen early in the spring after flowering and are dispersed after reaching maturity by late spring. Source: https://www.fnps.org/plant/acer-rubrum
Seasons
  • Winter (February)
  • Early Spring (April)
Research
Natural range of distribution: 
Habitat: 
Red maples are arguably the most adaptable and widespread tree in the eastern half of North America. They have proven themselves incredibly resilient in a variety of soil, pH, moisture, and rock environments. This includes habitats ranging from sandy beaches and rocky mountains to swamps and river flats. It can be found all along the Atlantic coast, from Southeastern Canada and North Eastern US to the Carolinas and Florida. Red maple has also spread west as far as Minnesota and Eastern Texas, after which the plain environment becomes too dry. In the north, A. Rubrum can be found on mountainous ridges and dry rocky soil, while in the south it prefers to live near swamps. Being highly adaptable and resistant to drought, lack of sun, and high pH environments, red maple has been able to rapidly dominate human disturbed forests and replace the usual dominant species. However, in more mature forests, it plays a minor supporting role.
Origin, history, and uses: 

Red maple is native to the northeastern US, where it then spread west and south. It was commonly used by Native Americans for syrup, acorns, and wood. It’s bark was also used to treat inflammation and rashes, as well as to brew tea for sickness. Red maple only became a dominant species once Europeans arrived. The removal of Native American forest management and heavy deforestation eliminated historically stronger species, increasing the red maple density by seven times. Today, red maple is one of the most commonly planted trees, especially in urban areas. In the fall it displays brilliant colors, is easy to transport, and grows quickly. It also supplies food for a variety of animals, including squirrels and deer. As a soft maple, it is easy to stain and machine, making it ideal for furniture and musical instruments. It can also be used for maple syrup, though other maples are more common.

Phenology: 
Red maple is a deciduous tree whose phenology varies above its wide array of diverse habitats. Generally, red maple flowerings herald the beginning of spring. Flowers can be seen starting in March and ending in May. Leaf buds break between late April and early May. True to their name, red maple leaves turn a variety of reds, oranges, and yellows. This color change usually occurs from August to early September. Leaves begin to fall in the beginning of October. Red maple seeds germinate early, but require a certain amount of light and moisture. As a result, they can be choked out by dense canopy and thrive in deforested areas.
References: 

Burns, Russell M., and Barbara H. Honkala, technical coordinators. Silvics of North America: Volume 2. Hardwoods. Agriculture Handbook 654. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 1990.

University of Minnesota. “Red Maple.” Season Watch, https://seasonwatch.umn.edu/red-maple. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

National Wildlife Federation. “Red Maple.” Wildlife Guide, https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Plants-and-Fungi/Red-Maple. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Media and Arts

Ad Acer Rubrum

Ruber, qui levibus autumnis horis
flammae similis ardes in altissima arce,
tu, non ventis vagis superbum ignem
frondes amittis.

O quantae species! Fugax forma
annis non iterat colorem idem:
nunc fulget, nunc splendet, nunc rutilat—
mox cadet umbra.

Sic nos, qui tenuem sequimur fugacem
lucem, fallimur, acer, ut repente
cedant tempora, nec manere nobis
possit iuventa.

Tu tamen rediens, veterisque rursus
vitae testis, agis quod ipse nescit
homo: quod cadit, hoc renasciturque—
pulchrius prius.

—————————-

To the Red Maple

Red one, who in the light autumn hours,
blazes like a flame on the highest citadel,
you, who won’t lose your proud fire
to the raging winds.

O what beauty! Its fleeing form
does not repeat the same color each year:
now it flashes, now it glows, now it reddens—
soon it will fall into the shadows.

So we, who follow the fleeting
light, are deceived, O maple, how suddenly
our seasons pass, and youth
is not allowed to stay.

Yet you return, once more the witness
of old life, and you perform what man
himself cannot: what falls is reborn again—
more beautiful than before.

AttachmentSize
PDF icon 3d Printed Red Maple Tree Sign4.69 MB