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Red Maples are
easily recognisable deciduous trees which grow to 18-27m in height.
They are often found in swampy areas as well as near houses where they are used as decorative trees. They
differ from Sugar Maples in that the Red Maple’s leaves grow after they blossom.
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Their leaves are
red tinged in spring, green in the summer, then turn bright red in the fall |
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They have smooth, grey bark which becomes scaly on older trees. |
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Female maple
flowers are bright red and have long stems.
The twigs are
red, hairless with white specks.
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Male maple
flowers are greenish yellow with shorter stems.
Notice the
leaf bud at the tip. |
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This shows a
group of male flowers still in bud.
Notice how
they appear red before blooming. This can cause confusion with the female
flowers.
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Trees may bear
all male flowers, all female flowers or a mixture of both, but on any individual
branch all of the flowers are generally of the same sex.
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New leaves
emerging from leaf buds
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By June the male
flowers have fallen and the female flowers have developed into seeds or
‘samaras’. |
