Root :: Aceraceae :: composit_silver_maple

Acer Saccharinum; female left, male right

Scientific name	:	Acer saccharinum
Synonyms	:	Argentacer saccharinum, Acer dasycarpum
Common name	:	Silver maple, silverleaf maple, soft maple, white maple, river maple, swamp maple, water maple, plaine blanche
Family	:	Aceraceae
Origin	:	Eastern North America
Description	:	Silver maple usually reaches its height limit at 70 to 80 feet, but can grow to 120 feet. The leaves are generally 3 to 6 inches across with five main deeply cut lobes with sharp points. The central main lobe is itself usually three-lobed. The lower and more shaded leaves are frequently not as deeply lobed as those in the upper canopy, and might be mistaken for those of red maple, a species with which silver maple often grows. The leaves are silvery white beneath, the trait from which the species gets one of its common names. In the fall the leaves usually turn a pale yellowish color. Several sexual patterns exist within the species. Some trees have either all male or all female flowers while some have both male and female flowers along with some flowers that are both male and female (perfect). In the accompanying picture, the female flower shows some small anthers that probably will remain nonfunctional. The flowers appear long before the leaves and are borne in dense clusters and range in color from greenish yellow to red. They are without petals and do not descend on small stems (petioles) that lengthen with time, as do the flowers of some of the other maples, red maple, for example.
Distribution	:	Quebec to Florida west to Minnessota and Oklahoma. Under natural conditions, the silver maple is basically a flood plain species, but is also found in other locations with readily available water such as lake edges and sometimes marshy and swampy areas. It is less common in the southern part of its range than in it its northern part and is largely absent in the higher elevation of the Appalachians. It has been widely planted as an ornamental across the US and Southern Canada. Dirr[6] rates the species as a zone 3 to 9 plant.
Blooming period	:	In its native distribution, silver maple is generally the first maple to bloom, usually blooming ahead of red maple. In Michigan, it blooms in March and April. Fernald [7] provides a composite blooming period for its natural distribution of February to early May.
Importance	:	Pellett[14] indicates that silver maple, because of its early bloom, is “especially valuable” for building foraging populations in the early spring and cites an incidence of daily hive gains of one to two 2 lbs during that he attributes to silver maple. Pammel and King[13] indicate that the nectar is “rather abundant” and that it is much visited by bees. Larsson and Shuel[9] indicate that the species is a good nectar producer and that there is moderate foraging on the species. While I do not doubt the observation cited above, I have only occasionally seen bees foraging on the species. I attribute this to silver maple’s early blooming period. In my area it blooms when frosts frequently occur nightly, and severely “nip” the flowers. For this reason, it even took me several years to obtain
Honey	:	Larsson and Shuel[9] indicate that the honey is pale amber to greenish without much flavor or aroma, but see the discussion about the quality of maple honeys under the above heading, ‘Acer—the maples’.
Pollen	:	Larsson and Shuel[9] indicate that as well as producing nectar, the species also produces pollen.
Additional information	:	: Silver maple is a rapidly growing deciduous tree that can reach 10 to 12 feet in 4 to 5 years and 45 ft in 20 years. It has a moderate life expectancy of about 130 years. The species’ major good attributes are its rapid growth and the fact that it often does well in poor soils. Weighing against this are the facts that it has shallow roots, which frequently clog drains and sewers, and, because it is both susceptible to wood rots and is not a strong wood, it is prone to wind and winter damage. While there are several cultivars readily available in the ornamental plants trade, there are many better choices for use in the home landscape. Where trees remain free of rot, the species is a useful lumber tree. The wood is relatively hard and is satisfactory for the manufacture of many types of wooden articles. It is often sold along with red maple under the name of soft maple. Old heartwood sometimes develops swirling patterns and is sold under the name of bird’s eye maple. It is also used for pulp wood especially where it has grown under unfavorable conditions. The species has been used for maple syrup production, but compared to sugar maple, the sap has a low sugar concentration. Due to its fast growth rate it has been considered for use as a biofuel.
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.