Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Rosids: Malvids: Sapindales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Acer platanoides
FAMILY
Sapindaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Read more about Norway Maple at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
One of the more reliable diagnostic characteristics of Norway maple is the milky, opaque sap that oozes from a broken leaf (or twig or root), per Crow's Path.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Acer platanoides
FAMILY
Aceraceae
COMMON NAME:
Norway Maple
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
JK Marlow jkm160504_493
May Jackson County NC
High Hampton Inn
)
Richard and Teresa Ware rtw_acer_platanoides
May
The bark is tightly furrowed, and freshly cut parts exude a milky sap, per Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide (Lance, 2004).
)
JK Marlow jkm140816_645
August Jackson County NC
High Hampton Inn
Leaves with a few large teeth but no serrations, per Trees of the Southeastern United States (Duncan & Duncan, 1988).
COMPARE
leaves of Black, Chalk, Florida, Norway and Sugar Maple
)
JK Marlow jkm140816_646
August Jackson County NC
High Hampton Inn
Double samaras (two winged seeds fused together) with widely divergent wings approaching 180°, per New Invaders of the Southeast (Rawlins et al., 2018).
)
Bill Cook, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org bug_1219015
Month Unknown
Twigs reddish-brown, usually 6-8mm in diameter; terminal bud rather blunt, per Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide (Lance, 2004).
)
Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org bug_5306048
Month Unknown
)
John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org bug_5391791
Month Unknown
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5448455
Month Unknown
Flowers in erect rounded clusters, appearing with the leaves, per Trees of the Southeastern United States (Duncan & Duncan, 1988).
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5448511
Month Unknown
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5448525
Month Unknown
Petioles of Norway maple exude a milky sap when broken (vs the native Sugar Maple's sap is clear), per New Invaders of the Southeast (Rawlins et al., 2018).
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5448553
Month Unknown
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5448586
Month Unknown
Laef shape and milky sap distinguish this from native maples, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5448620
Month Unknown
Bark of mature trees is gray-brown, forming long narrow interlacing ridges, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Acer platanoides
FAMILY
Sapindaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Acer platanoides
FAMILY
Aceraceae
13
Tree
Perennial
Monoecious or dioecious
Habitat: Suburban woodlands, disturbed forests, hedgerows, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: Europe
Rare in our area, a noxious weed tree in much of the northeast US
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Forest Health Assessment & Applied Sciences Team: New Invaders of the Southeast
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2013
- Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council
- US Forest Service Southern Research Station
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 2014
DOES THE PLANT HAVE "MILKY SAP"?
Has milky sap (latex)
LEAVES:
Deciduous
Simple
Opposite
FLOWER:
Spring
Greenish-yellow
Radially symmetrical
5 sepals
5 petals
Unisexual
FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Schizocarp composed of two 1-seeded samaras
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007) p153
- New Invaders of the Southeast (Rawlins et al., 2018) p033
- The Sibley Guide to Trees (Sibley, 2009) p337
- Trees of the Southeastern United States (Duncan & Duncan, 1988) p090
- Woody Plants of the Blue Ridge (Lance) p14
- Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide (Lance, 2004) p048
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