ACERACEAE 
Mountain Maple 
Acer spicatum Lam. 
HABIT.—A bushy tree sometimes 25-30 feet high, with a 
short trunk 6-8 inches in diameter; small, upright branches form 
a small, rounded crown. More often a straggling shrub. 
LEAVES.—Opposite, simple, 4-5 inches long and two- 
thirds as broad; 3-lobed above the middle, the lobes coarsely 
crenate-serrate with pointed teeth, the sinuses usually wide- 
angled and acute at the base; thin; glabrous, dark green above, 
covered with a whitish down beneath, turning scarlet and orange 
in autumn; veining prominent; petioles long, slender, with en- 
larged base. 
FLOWERS.—June, after the leaves are full grown; poly- 
gamo-monoecious; small, yellow-green, in erect, slightly com- 
pound, many-flowered, long-stemmed, terminal racemes; calyx 
downy, 5-lobed; petals 5; stamens 7-8; ovary tomentose. 
FRUIT.—July; bright red, turning brown in late autumn; 
small, glabrous, paired samaras, in pendulous, racemose clusters. 
WINTER-BUDS.—Small, flattish, acute, bright red, more 
or less tomentose; the terminal 1% inch long, containing the 
flowers. 
BARK.—Twigs reddish, slightly hairy; very thin, red- 
brown, smooth or slightly furrowed on the trunk. 
WOOD.—Light, soft, close-grained, light brown, with thick, 
lighter colored sapwood. 
DISTRIBUTION.—Common in the Upper Peninsula; ex- 
tends as far south as Saginaw Bay. 
HABITAT.—Damp forests; rocky woods; along streams; 
always in the shade of other trees. 
NOTES.—Forms much of the undergrowth of our.northern 
forests. Little used, except for fire-wood. 
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