Root :: Aceraceae :: 7_Acer_spicatum_flower_jpeg

Acer spicatum

Scientific name	:	Acer spicatum
Common name	:	Mountain maple
Family	:	Aceraceae
Origin	:	Eastern North America
Description	:	Acer spicatum is generally a shrub or small, short trunked, bushy tree with a usual mature height in the range of 10 to 30 feet. The world record holder found in Michigan, however, is over 50 ft. The leaves are generally 3-lobed or occasionally barely 5-lobed and fall within the range of 2 to 5 inches for length and width. The leaves turn to yellows, oranges and reds in the fall. The flowers are borne on an erect 3 to 6 inch long central stem. Dirr[6] claims the flowers are perfect (both stamens and anthers present) while others[2] claim that they are both perfect and unisexual with male, female and perfect flowers being borne on the same tree.
Distribution	:	Newfoundland to northern Georgia wnd west to eastern Saskatchewan and and northeasterb Minnesota. Dirr[6] considers the species to be a zone 3 to 7 plant. The species is found in cool woods, often along streams or connecting ravines as an understory shrub or tree. It is also apparently frequent, at least in southern Michigan, along deep bogs[3].
Blooming period	:	In Michigan the species blooms in June. Fernald provides a composite blooming date for its geographical range of late May to early August.
Importance	:	There is very little information concerning mountain maple as a bee plant. Pellett[14] mentions that the species could theoretically be a productive maple because of its late blooming period. Pammel and King [13] mention the species, but say nothing about it as a honey plant. Oertel [12] cites it as a Michigan honey plant. I have included mountain maple in this work because, like Pellett, I consider its late blooming date and, therefore, its potential as a honey plant, quite intriguing. I also find its understory habit quite interesting because it might be used to increase the honey production from a large-tree planting, for example, basswood.
Additional information	:	Mountain maple is a shallow rooted, short to moderate lived, shade tolerant plant that is adapted to medium (but not fine or coarse) textured soils[16]. It has a slow to medium growth rate, and reaches a maximum height of 30 ft in 20 years. The wood is of no commercial importance and the species has limited value as an ornamental.
Reference	:	1. Ayers, G. S. 2003. Understanding the Other Side of Beekeeping. Part 2--Completing the model. American bee Journal 143:886-890. 2. Barnes, B. V. and W. H. Wagner. 1981. Michigan Trees. A guide to the trees of Michigan and the Great Lakes Region. The University of Michigan Press. Ann Arbor, MI. 3. Billington, C. 1977. Shrubs of Michigan. Cranbrook Institute of Science. Bulletin 20 (Second Edition). Cranbrook Institute of Science. Bloomfield Hills, MI. 4. Crane, E. (Editor) 1975. Honey a Comprehensive Survey. Crane, Russak & Co. Inc. New York. 5. Crane, E., P Walker and R. Day. 1984. Directory of Important World Honey Sources. International Bee Research Association. London 6. Dirr, M. A. 1990 Manual of woody Landscape plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Use. Stipes Publishing Company. Champaign, IL. 7. Fernald, M. L.1950. Gray's Manual of Botany (8th Ed.). D. Van Nostrand Company. New York. 8. Howes, E. N. 1979. Plants and Beekeeping. Faber and Faber. London 9. Larsson, H. C.and R. Shuel (C. D. Scott-Dupree Ed.) 1990. Nectar Trees, Shrubs and Herbs of Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food Publication 82.Queens Printer for Ontario. 10. Lovell, J. H. 1926, Honey Plants of North America. A. I. Root Co. Medina, OH. 11. Morton Arboretum Staff, 1990. Woody Plants of The Morton Arboretum. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, IL. 12. Oertel, E. 1939. Honey and Pollen Plants of the United States. U.S.D.A. Circular 554. Government Printing Office, Washington D. C. 13. Pammel, L. H., and C. M. King. 1930. Honey Plants of Iowa. Iowa Geological Survey Nol 7. Iowa Geological Survey. 14. Pellett, F. C. 1976. American Honey Plants. Dadant and sons. Hamilton, IL. 15. "Rehder, A. 1990. Manual of Cultivated Trees and Shrubs Hardy in North America Exclusive of the Subtropical and Warmer Temperate Regions. Dioscorides Press. Portland, OR. " 16. USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.