Page authors: Don Konke, David Giblin
Acer saccharinum
silver maple
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Idaho and Montana, also in central and eastern North America where native.

Habitat: Riparian corridors, moist bottomlands, and other areas near water, often disturbed.

Flowers: March-April

Origin: Introduced from central and eastern North America

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees, wasps, wind

Description:
General:

Large tree to 35 m. tall from a short trunk up to 1 m. in diameter, dividing into several large, ascending limbs; bark thin and gray on young trees, flaking when old.

Leaves:

Leaves opposite, palmately 5-lobed, up to 15 cm. long and nearly as broad, deeply indented, with a truncated base, the lobes sharply toothed; leaves are pale green and shiny above, smooth and silvery below.

Flowers:

Plant monoecious or dioecious; flowers yellowish-green, in short-stalked, thick clusters.

Fruits:

Samaras.

Accepted Name:
Acer saccharinum L.
Publication: Sp. Pl. 2: 1055. 1753.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Acer dasycarpum Ehrh.
Acer saccharinum L. var. laciniatum Pax
Acer saccharinum L. var. wieri Rehder
Argentacer saccharinum (L.) Small
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Acer saccharinum in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.

WA Flora Checklist: Acer saccharinum checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Acer saccharinum information.

E-Flora BC: Acer saccharinum atlas page.

CalPhotos: Acer saccharinum photos.

USDA Plants: Acer saccharinum information.

32 photographs:
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