Sugar Maple

Simple leaves on the sugar maple tree grow in an opposite arrangement on branches. Each leaf contains three to five serrated lobes that have netlike venation.

The leaves change colors in the fall and become striking red, orange, yellow and burgundy hues. Vibrant fall color  is common to all maple trees and results from anthocyanin pigments in the leaves coming through as chlorophyll production slows and stops in the fall. Maple leaves have been used to symbolize strength and endurance and have been a symbol of Canadian nature since 1700. The maple leaf is proudly featured on the Canadian flag.

Sugar maple trees reach sexual maturity between 20 to 30 years old and can live up to 300 to 400 years.Once sexually mature, reproduction occurs between late March and mid-May. Sugar maple trees can freely pollinate themselves without the assistance of a pollinator. The flowers are unisexual, and a single tree can produce both male and female flowers. A few months after pollination, samaras begin to appear. Samaras are the fruit of the sugar maple tree and contain a pair of winged seeds that are dispersed like helicopters in the wind.

Other trees that are a part of the Acer genus can be found on Rowan’s campus by referencing the map. The map can also be referenced to find many other trees!

These resources are a product of Dr. Sara Wright’s Plant Diversity course in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Department. My name is Judith Evans, and I will earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences in 2022. I plan to pursue a career in medicine. You can read more about me and the maple tree below.