Acer rubrum, the听red maple, also known as听swamp maple,听water maple, or听soft maple, is one of the most common and widespread deciduous听听of eastern and central North America. The听听recognizes it as the most abundant native tree in eastern North America.听The red maple ranges from southeastern听听around the听听on the border with听听and听, east to听, south to听, and southwest to听. Many of its features, especially its leaves, are quite variable in form. At maturity, it often attains a height around 30听m (100听ft). Its flowers, petioles, twigs, and seeds are all red to varying degrees. Among these features, however, it is best known for its brilliant deep scarlet foliage in autumn.
Over most of its range, red maple is adaptable to a very wide range of site conditions, perhaps more so than any other tree in eastern North America. It can be found growing in听, on poor, dry听, and almost anywhere in between. It grows well from听听to about 900听m (3,000听ft). Due to its attractive fall foliage and pleasing form, it is often used as a shade tree for landscapes. It is used commercially on a small scale for听听production and for its medium to high quality lumber. It is also the听听of Rhode Island. The red maple can be considered weedy or even invasive in young, highly disturbed forests, especially frequently logged forests. In a mature or old-growth northern hardwood forest, red maple only has a sparse presence, while shade-tolerant trees such as sugar maples,听, and听听thrive. By removing red maple from a young forest recovering from disturbance, the natural cycle of forest regeneration is altered, changing the diversity of the forest for centuries to come.
DESCRIPTION
Though A. rubrum听is sometimes easy to identify, it is highly changeable in morphological characteristics. It is a medium to large sized tree, reaching heights of 27 to 38听m (90 to 120听ft) and exceptionally over 41听m (135听ft) in the southern Appalachians where conditions favor its growth. The leaves are usually听9 to 11听cm (3+1鈦�2听to听4+1鈦�4听in) long on a full-grown tree. The trunk diameter often ranges from 46 to 88听cm (18 to 35听in); depending on the growing conditions, however, open-grown trees can attain diameters of up to 153听cm (60听in). The trunk remains free of branches until some distance up the tree on forest grown trees, while individuals grown in the open are shorter and thicker with a more rounded crown. Trees on poorer sites often become malformed and scraggly.听Generally the crown is irregularly ovoid with ascending whip-like curved shoots. The听听is a pale grey and smooth when the individual is young. As the tree grows the bark becomes darker and cracks into slightly raised long plates.听The largest known living red maple is located near听, at a height of 38.1听m (125听ft) and a bole circumference, at breast height, of 4.95听m (16听ft 3听in).
The听听of the red maple offer the easiest way to distinguish it from its relatives. As with all North American maple trees, they are听听and arranged oppositely on the twig. They are typically 5鈥�10听cm (2鈥�4听in) long and wide with three to five听听with a serrated margin. The听听are typically narrow, but the leaves can exhibit considerable variation.听When five lobes are present, the three at the terminal end are larger than the other two near the base. In contrast, the leaves of the related听,听A. saccharinum, are much more deeply lobed, more sharply toothed, and characteristically have five lobes. The upper side of听A. rubrum's leaf is light green and the underside is whitish and can be either听听or hairy. The leaf stalks are usually red and are up to 10听cm (4听in) long. The leaves can turn a characteristic brilliant red in autumn, but can also become yellow or orange on some individuals. Soil acidity can influence the color of the foliage and trees with female flowers are more likely to produce orange coloration while male trees produce red. The听听of red maple are most spectacular in the northern part of its range where climates are cooler.
The听听of the red maple are reddish in color and somewhat shiny with small听. Dwarf shoots are present on many branches. The听听are usually blunt and greenish to reddish in color, generally with several loose scales. The lateral buds are slightly stalked, and in addition, collateral buds may be present, as well. The buds form in fall and winter and are often visible from a distance due to their large size and reddish tint. The leaf scars on the twig are V-shaped and contain three bundle scars.
The听听are generally unisexual, with male and female flowers appearing in separate听听clusters, though they are sometimes also bisexual. They appear in late winter to early spring, from December听to May depending on elevation and latitude, usually before the leaves. The tree itself is considered听, meaning some individuals are male, some female, and some听.听Under the proper conditions, the tree can sometimes switch from male to female, male to hermaphroditic, and hermaphroditic to female.听The red maple will begin blooming when it is about 8 years old, but it significantly varies between tree to tree: some trees may begin flowering when they are 4 years old. The flowers are red with 5 small petals and a 5-lobed听, usually at the twig tips. The staminate flowers are听. The pistillate flowers are borne on听听that grow out while the flowers are blooming, so that eventually the flowers are in a hanging cluster with stems听1 to 5听cm (1鈦�2听to 2听in) long.听The petals are lineal to oblong in shape and are pubescent. The pistillate flowers have one听听formed from two fused carpels with a glabrous superior ovary and two long听听that protrude beyond the听. The staminate flowers contain between 4 and 12听, often with 8.
The听听is a听听of 2听, each one听15 to 25听mm (5鈦�8听to 1听in) long. Prior to dehiscence, the wings of the fruit are somewhat divergent at an angle of 50 to 60掳. They are borne on long slender pedicels and are variable in color from light brown to reddish.听They ripen from April through early June, before even the leaf development is altogether complete. After they reach maturity, the seeds are dispersed for a 1- to 2-week period from April through July.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
Acer rubrum听is one of the most abundant and widespread trees in eastern North America. It can be found from the south of听, through听,听, and southern听听to the southwest west of Ontario, extreme southeastern听听and northern听; southward through听,听,听, eastern听, and eastern听听in its western range; and east to听. It has the largest continuous range along the North American听听of any tree that occurs in Florida. In total it ranges 2,600听km (1,600听mi) from north to south.听The species is native to all regions of the United States east of the听. The tree's range ends where the 鈭�40听掳C (鈭�40听掳F) mean minimum听听begins, namely in southeastern听.听A. rubrum听is not present in most of the听听of the northern听听(although it is found in Ohio), the听听in southern听听and southeastern Texas and the swamp prairie of the听.听Red maple's western range stops with the Great Plains where conditions become too dry for it. The absence of red maple from the Prairie Peninsula is most likely due to the tree's poor tolerance of wildfires. Red maple is most abundant in the Northeastern US, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and northeastern Wisconsin, and is rare in the extreme west of its range and in the Southeastern US.
In several other locations, the tree is absent from large areas but still present in a few specific habitats. An example is the听听of Kentucky, where red maple is not found in the dominant open plains, but is present along streams.听Here the red maple is not present in the bottom land forests of the听, despite the fact it is common in similar habitats and species associations both to the north and south of this area. In the Northeastern US, red maple can be a climax forest species in certain locations, but will eventually give way to sugar maple.
A. rubrum听does very well in a wide range of soil types, with varying textures, moisture,听, and elevation, probably more so than any other forest tree in North America.听A. rubrum's high pH tolerance means that it can grow in a variety of places, and it is widespread along the Eastern United States.听It grows on glaciated as well as unglaciated soils derived from听,听,听,听,听,听,听,听, and听.听听can occur on very听听soils, though otherwise its pH tolerance is quite high. Moist mineral soil is best for germination of seeds.
Red maple can grow in a variety of moist and dry biomes, from dry ridges and sunny, southwest-facing slopes to听听and听. While many types of tree prefer a south- or north-facing aspect, the red maple does not appear to have a preference.听Its ideal conditions are in moderately well-drained, moist sites at low or intermediate elevations. However, it is nonetheless common in mountainous areas on relatively dry ridges, as well as on both the south and west sides of upper slopes. Furthermore, it is common in swampy areas, along the banks of slow moving streams, as well as on poorly drained flats and depressions. In northern听听and听, the tree is found on the tops of ridges, sandy or rocky upland and otherwise dry soils, as well as in nearly pure stands on moist soils and the edges of swamps. In the far south of its range, it is almost exclusively associated with swamps.听Additionally, red maple is one of the most drought-tolerant species of maple in the Carolinas.
Red maple is far more abundant today than when Europeans first arrived in North America. It only contributed minimally to old-growth upland forests, and would only form same-species stands in听.听The density of the tree in many of these areas has increased six- to seven-fold, and this trend seems to be continuing, all of which is due to human factors, mainly loss of forest management by听听who managed the forests to enhance acorn production and oak tree growth.听This loss of management has been further enhanced by continued heavy logging and a recent trend of young, shrubby forests recovering from past human disturbances. Also, the decline of American elm and American chestnut due to introduced diseases has contributed to its spread. Red maple dominates such sites, but largely disappears until it only has a sparse presence by the time a forest is mature. This species is in fact a vital part of forest regeneration in the same way that听听is.
Because it can grow on a variety of substrates, has a high pH tolerance, and grows in both shade and sun,听A. rubrum听is a prolific seed producer and highly adaptable, often dominating disturbed sites. While many believe that it is replacing historically dominant tree species in the Eastern United States, such as听,听,听,听听and听, red maple will only dominate young forests prone to natural or human disturbance. In areas disturbed by humans where the species thrives, it can reduce diversity, but in a mature forest, it is not a dominant species; it only has a sparse presence and adds to the diversity and ecological structure of a forest. Extensive use of red maple in landscaping has also contributed to the surge in the species' numbers as volunteer seedlings proliferate. Finally, disease epidemics have greatly reduced the population of elms and chestnuts in the forests of the US. While mainline forest trees continue to dominate mesic sites with rich soil, more marginal areas are increasingly being dominated by red maple.
ECOLOGY
Red maple's maximum lifespan is 150 years, but most live less than 100 years. The tree's thin bark is easily damaged from ice and storms, animals, and when used in landscaping, being struck by flying debris from lawn mowers, allowing fungi to penetrate and cause heart rot.听Its ability to thrive in a large number of habitats is largely due to its ability to produce听听to suit its site from a young age. In wet locations, red maple seedlings produce short听听with long, well-developed lateral roots; while on dry sites, they develop long taproots with significantly shorter laterals. The roots are primarily horizontal, however, forming in the upper 25听cm (9.8听in) of the ground. Mature trees have woody roots up to 25听m (82听ft) long. They are very tolerant of flooding, with one study showing that 60 days of flooding caused no leaf damage. At the same time, they are tolerant of drought due to their ability to stop growing under dry conditions by then producing a second-growth flush when conditions later improve, even if growth has stopped for 2 weeks.
A. rubrum听is one of the first plants to flower in spring. A crop of seeds is generally produced every year with a bumper crop often occurring every second year. A single tree between 5 and 20听cm (2.0 and 7.9听in) in diameter can produce between 12,000 and 91,000 seeds in a season. A tree 30听cm (0.98听ft) in diameter was shown to produce nearly a million seeds.听Red maple produces one of the smallest seeds of any of the maples.听Fertilization has also been shown to significantly increase the seed yield for up to two years after application.
The seeds are听听and tend to germinate in early summer soon after they are released, assuming a small amount of light, moisture, and sufficient temperatures are present. If the seeds are densely shaded, then germination commonly does not occur until the next spring. Most seedlings do not survive in closed听听situations. However, one- to four-year-old seedlings are common under dense canopy. Though they eventually die if no light reaches them, they serve as a reservoir, waiting to fill any open area of the canopy above.
Trees growing in a Zone 9 or 10 area such as Florida will usually die from cold damage if transferred up north, for instance to Canada, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and New York, even if the southern trees were planted with northern red maples. Due to their wide range, genetically the trees have adapted to the climatic differences.
Red maple is able to increase its numbers significantly when associate trees are damaged by disease, cutting, or fire. One study found that 6 years after听听a 3.4 hectares (8.4 acres) Oak-Hickory forest containing no red maples, the plot contained more than 2,200 red maple seedlings per hectare (900 per acre) taller than 1.4听m (4.6听ft).听One of its associates, the听听(Prunus serotina), contains benzoic acid, which has been shown to be a potential听听inhibitor of red maple growth. Red maple is one of the first species to start stem elongation. In one study, stem elongation was one-half completed in 1 week, after which growth slowed and was 90% completed within only 54 days. In good light and moisture conditions, the seedlings can grow 30听cm (0.98听ft) in their first year and up to 60听cm (2.0听ft) each year for the next few years, making it a fast grower.
The red maple is used as a food source by several forms of wildlife.听听and听听in particular use the current season's growth of red maple as an important source of winter food. Several听听(butterflies and moths) utilize the leaves as food, including larvae of the rosy maple moth (); see List of Lepidoptera that feed on maples.
Due to听A. rubrum's very wide range, there is significant variation in hardiness, size, form, time of flushing, onset of dormancy, and other traits. Generally speaking, individuals from the north flush the earliest, have the most reddish fall color, set their buds the earliest and take the least winter injury. Seedlings are tallest in the north-central and east-central part of the range. In Florida, at the extreme south of the red maple's range, it is limited exclusively to swamplands. The fruits also vary geographically with northern individuals in areas with brief, frost-free periods producing fruits that are shorter and heavier than their southern counterparts. As a result of such variation, there is much genetic potential for breeding programs with a goal of producing red maples for cultivation. This is especially useful for making urban听听that require resistance from听, air pollution, and drought.
Red maple frequently hybridizes with听; the听, known as Freeman's maple,听, is intermediate between the parents.
TOXICITY[]
The leaves of red maple, especially when dead or wilted, are extremely听. The toxin is unknown, but believed to be an听听because it damages听, causing acute听听that inhibits the transport of听. This not only decreases oxygen delivery to all tissues, but also leads to the production of听, which can further damage the kidneys. The ingestion of 700听grams (1.5 pounds) of leaves is considered toxic and 1.4 kilograms (3 pounds) is lethal. Symptoms occur within one or two days after ingestion and can include depression, lethargy, increased rate and depth of breathing, increased heart rate,听, dark brown urine,听,听, coma, and death. Treatment is limited and can include the use of听听or mineral oil and听听in order to stop further absorption of the toxin into the stomach, as well as听, fluid support,听, and anti-oxidants such as听. About 50% to 75% of affected horses die or are euthanized as a result.
CULTIVATION
Red maple's rapid growth, ease of transplanting, attractive form, and value for wildlife (in the eastern US) has made it one of the most extensively planted trees. In parts of the听, it is one of the most common introduced trees. Its popularity in cultivation stems from its vigorous habit, its attractive and early red flowers, and most importantly, its flaming red fall foliage. The tree was introduced into the听听in 1656 and shortly thereafter entered cultivation. There it is frequently found in many parks and yards.
Red maple is a good choice of a tree for urban areas when there is ample room for its root system. Forming an association with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi can help A. rubrum grow along city streets.听It is more tolerant of pollution and road salt than sugar maples, although the tree's fall foliage is not as vibrant in this environment. Like several other maples, its low root system can be invasive and it makes a poor choice for plantings near paving. It attracts squirrels, who eat its buds in the early spring, although squirrels prefer the larger buds of the听.
Red maples make vibrant and colorful听, and have year around attractive features for display.
OTHER USES
In the lumber industry听Acer rubrum听is considered a "soft maple", a designation it shares, commercially, with silver maple (A. saccharinum). In this context, the term "soft" is more comparative, than descriptive; i.e., "soft maple", while softer than its harder cousin, sugar maple (A. saccharum), is still a fairly hard wood, being comparable to black cherry (Prunus serotina) in this regard. Like听A. saccharum, the wood of red maple is close-grained, but its texture is softer, less dense, and has not as desirable an appearance, particularly under a clear finish. However, the wood from听Acer rubrum听while being typically less expensive than hard maple, also has greater dimensional stability than that of听A. saccharum, and also machines and stains easier. Thus, high grades of wood from the red maple can be substituted for hard maple, particularly when it comes to making stain/paint-grade furniture. Red maple lumber also contains a greater percentage of "curly" (aka "flame"/"fiddleback") figure, which is prized by musical instrument/custom furniture makers, as well as the veneer industry. As a soft maple, the wood tends to shrink more during the drying process than with the hard maples.[]
Red maple is also used for the production of听, though the hard maples听听(sugar maple) and听听(black maple) are more commonly utilized. One study compared the sap and syrup from the sugar maple with those of the red maple, as well as those of the听听(silver maple),听听(boxelder), and听听(Norway maple), and all were found to be equal in sweetness, flavor, and quality. However, the buds of red maple and other soft maples emerge much earlier in the spring than the sugar maple, and after sprouting chemical makeup of the sap changes, imparting an undesirable flavor to the syrup. This being the case, red maple can only be tapped for syrup before the buds emerge, making the season very short.
Native Americans used red maple bark as a wash for inflamed eyes and cataracts, and as a remedy for hives and muscular aches. They also would brew tea from the inner bark to treat coughs and diarrhea. Pioneers made cinnamon-brown and black dyes from a bark extract, and iron sulphate could be added to the tannin from red maple bark in order to make ink.
Red maple is a medium quality firewood,听possessing less heat energy, nominally 5.4听听per听听(18.7听million听听per听) , than other hardwoods such as ash: 7.0 GJ/m3 (24 million British thermal units per cord), oak: 7.0 GJ/m3 (24 million British thermal units per cord), or birch: 6.1 GJ/m3 (21 million British thermal units per cord).